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HOOK 57 57 HOOK There are many reasons to enjoy a colorful northeast foliage before ski season and the first snowfall arrives. Temperatures, day length, and weather bring Mother Nature's official time of year to put on a color show for all. It begins in July, when days officially shorten after the Summer Solstice. With less sun exposure and cooler nights, trees begin to prepare for winter when the cells at the base of their leaf stems dry out. These day and temperature changes also help halt chloro- phyll production, making way for other pigments to change the color of the leaves. Sugar Maples are so loved due to the fact that their leaves contain all three color-changing pigments, offering a full range of shades. Because of variables, no two autumns are ever alike, making it a spectacle of wonder and immense beauty. It won't be long until the late autumn frosts settle in and these lands are blan- keted in snow. From the Hudson Valley to the Adiron- dacks, the Finger Lakes to the Catskills and beyond, foliage erupts through the North- east, the corner of the country well known for its dazzling hues of reds, oranges, and yellows that overwhelm green canopies of summer days. Due to forested land, a vari- ety of tree species, and the right amount of weather variables, many flock to our re- gion for this exciting display. Normally, hardwood forests containing deciduous trees that shed their leaves con- tribute best to colors. Beginning with one of the most popular, as mentioned, the Sugar Maple provides excellent pops of orange and red. Other species that may stand out are the yellows of the Paper and Gray Birch, Quaking Aspens, and Shag-