Fall is really amazing in northwest Arkansas. Our neighborhood looks like it’s on fire from all the colors of the changing leaves. The red maples, especially, are turning a shade of red that just should not exist in nature. These pictures from around the neighborhood don’t even begin to do it justice.

They really look like someone has very badly adjusted the hue in photoshop.

By the way, leaves change color because as the chlorophyl in the leaves break down the carotenoids (which also make the yellows and oranges in things like carrots and bananas) and the anthocyanins (that give the red and purplish colors of berries and grapes) that are present in the leaves are “unmasked” as the green chlorphyl is broken down.  This process works best when there was a warm wet spring, a mild summer, and an autumn with warmish days and brisk nights.  So apparently, this is the epitome of fall right now.