A Fall Look at Trees in Québec

Introduction: The Festival of Colors

The first sign of the fall festival of colors appears at the top of trees. The maple tree leads the way with a splash of color in its upper branches. Bush pilots looking down from their planes claim that, as early as mid-September, the forest looks like it's wearing a green suit with a gold-and-red cap.

But did you ever wonder what makes leaves change color in the fall? As the days get shorter, the sap in the trees flows more slowly, which affects the upper branches first. The leaves at the top of the tree, which get more sunlight, mature faster and complete their life cycle before the leaves further down the tree.

At the end of their life cycle, the leaves drop and accumulate on the ground.

But what happens to all the leaves that end up on the ground in the fall?