Season of color

If people stop to smell the roses in spring, then fall is the time they stop and see the leaves. Provided last week's rain hasn't blown all the leaves off the trees, this week will be the perfect -- and possibly last -- time to enjoy the colorful palette of fall.

Leaves stay green during the spring and summer because the chlorophyll used in the food-making process of photosynthesis is green. The leaves on trees turn from green to gold, yellow, orange, purple or red because the tree shuts down for the winter and stops producing chlorophyll.

"Once that food making stops, the green goes away and the color is revealed," said local outreach science educator Jason Lindsey. "This is the time of year to see those colors."

With the hills and trails around Southeast Missouri, it's easy to see the result of the change. Joe Garvey, forester with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said any country road will be a good choice for leaf peeping right now.

He said U.S. 61 north among the river hills has many colors, Highway 34 west to Bollinger and Wayne counties or the country roads of Scott County, will provide hours of fall admiring. Or, take Highway 177 to the Trail of Tears State Park or the river overlook.

Semissourian.com user Gordon Haycraft submitted this photo of fall foliage at the Mississippi River overlook at Trail of Tears State Park. The trails at the park near Fruitland are among the best places in Southeast Missouri to see the season's changing leaves.

"It's a lot better to get out and start walking," Garvey said.

The river overlook closes at sunset to visitors and the Shepard's Trail at Trail of Tears is still closed, but three other trails -- the Peewah trail, Lake Trail and Nature Trail -- remain open.

"Any of them would give you a good idea of what we've got out here," said Trail of Tears assistant superintendent Jim Griggs. He said the PY Trail will provide more of a challenge than the other two.

The Nature Trail follows an easy 1.5 mile walk, while the Lake Trail is about two miles. The Peewah Trail, if followed the entire way, forms an 11-mile loop.

"Make sure you bring some sturdy shoes," Griggs said. He also recommends putting food and water in a backpack to take along.

Garvey also recommended Castor River Conservation in Bollinger County, Amidon Memorial Conservation Area and Millstream Gardens near Fredericktown, Mo.

"You get to see more rapids. It's real nice," he said.

The Missouri Department of Conservation website reports that the Amidon trails may be cluttered with downed trees and limbs from a May storm.

The wetter the weather in spring and summer, the more vibrant and colorful the leaves will be in the fall. The frequent wet weather from April to August have made for a brilliant season in October and November.

"It's been a nice fall," Garvey said. "Every fall is nice. When it gets like this it's good to get out."