LADYBUG: FALL PRESENTS ITS ANNUAL COLOR SHOW

The red of the sumac, dogwood and sweet gum, the orange of the sugar maples and sassafras, the yellow of birch, walnut and tulip, poplar. These are the stars of the color show that runs every autumn.

It is usually the third week of October that the color in this area is at its peak, but each year it may differ. This year's display is not likely to be really spectacular because of our extremely hot and dry summer. Some trees are already showing premature fall coloration and leaf drop because of stress from the drought.

The simplest explanation why trees change colors came from the children's page of the newspaper quite some time ago. It explained that leaves are the food factories for trees. They use carbon dioxide, sunlight, water and minerals from the soil to make the trees' food and sap. Leaves give off oxygen in a process known as photosynthesis.

In our part of the world trees are of two main types, known as broad leaf and evergreens, which have green needles year-round. Broad leaf or deciduous trees shed their leaves in the fall.

To answer the question as why leaves change color, the easiest explanation is that during spring and summer, leaves are busy food factories. A green-colored substance called chlorophyll helps keep the food factories running. These leaves have other colors such as yellow or orange, but they are hidden by the green of the chlorophyll.

In the fall as the days get shorter and nights get cooler, the leaves stop making food. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and then the other hidden colors begin to show. A special layer of cells forms at the base of each leaf stalk. These cells cut the tissues that join the leaf to the tree.

At the same time other chemical changes may take place in the leaves, causing additional pigments to form that vary from yellow to red or blue, giving rise to the reddish and purplish fall colors. Others turn yellow, such as the ginkgo, which is the oldest tree, growing on the earth for millions of years. For some mysterious reason, this tree's fan-shaped leaves turn golden yellow and drop all in one day.

Large maples and oaks provide color ranging from gold through orange and red. Last to color are the oaks. Scarlet, red, black, pin and white oaks are red while the shingle, Black Jack, chestnut and willow oaks are yellow.

Shrubs, too, are colorful. The winged euonymus, also called burning bush, has leaves of rosy-pink to red color that is unique in the fall.

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This is the time to pot spring flowering bulbs to flower inside this coming winter. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, grape hyacinths and crocus may be potted for early bloom. Any potting soil may be used as quality bulbs have an adequate food supply within each bulb that will carry it through flowering. Good draining is important.

To flower, bulbs must have a chilling process in a refrigerator, bulb cellar or having pots buried in a shaded protected spot, but not allowed to freeze. Most will require 10 weeks for complete cycle. Time for forcing bulbs may vary with the variety of the bulbs.

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There are a few annuals that will grow from seeds planted in the autumn, but these flowers must be planted where they are to grow because many do not transplant easily in the spring. One of the best is larkspur, a relative of delphinium, which produces tall, upright plants with spikes of purple, lavender, pink or white.

Cornflowers or bachelor's buttons are another annual in blue, pink and white. Because we have so few blue flowers, these are a welcome treat in early summer. Annual poppies are another group that will greet spring with red, pink or white flowers in single or double forms. Small flowered violas, referred to as johnny-jump-ups, will also flourish from seeds.

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The big news in the gardening world is that Ferry-Morse Seed Co. is coming out with a mail-order catalog, the first since 1950!

Its main focus has been on the retail packet displays in recent decades. Ferry-Morse Seeds has been in business since 1956, and the company now sees a growing interest in gardening in older people and the Baby-Boomers, who will in the future be gardening big-time. We are looking forward to seeing this new catalog from the company who has been in business for 146 years, with the motto "Let The Good Earth Produce."

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Fall vegetable gardening has been a trial this year. Heat and the continuing drought have taken their toll. For those, however, who persisted, watered regularly gave care, the reward has been worth it. Cool nights have promoted growth. Chinese cabbage, bok choy and a dour regularly grown cabbage are doing well. Lettuce, radishes, turnips and other small vegetables are reaching our tables. Summer squash hangs on and winter squash is now mature. Most fall vegetables will stand light frosts, so several more weeks of production seems likely.

~Mary Blue is a resident of Cape Girardeau and an avid gardener.