Fwd: Discover Autumn's Colorful Secrets at the Garden!

[Diane Tokugawa]

Diane

Begin forwarded message:

From: UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley <gardenm...@berkeley.edu>

Subject: Discover Autumn's Colorful Secrets at the Garden!

Date: November 5, 2025 at 8:33:33 AM PST

To: dtok...@comcast.net

Reply-To: gardenm...@berkeley.edu

View as webpage Garden News Have you ever wondered why trees suddenly put on a bright show of colors before their leaves fall off? This spectacular process is the result of a remarkable chemical preparation for the dormancy of winter. Read on to learn more and plan your next visit to the Garden soon to take in the ephemeral autumn display. And don't miss Tom Killion's stunning exhibition California Treescapes,on view through November 9. We look forward to seeing you at the Garden! Environmental Signals Trees rely on environmental cues to initiate the autumn transformation. Shorter daylight hours are the most crucial and reliable sign that cold weather and frost are approaching. Cooler overnight temperatures further reinforce the signal that it is time for the tree to prepare for dormancy. The transformation in leaf color begins with the cessation of the production of the green pigment, chlorophyll, which is essential for photosynthesis. As the tree prepares to seal off its leaves, chlorophyll production stops, and the remaining pigment rapidly degrades, causing the dominant green hue to disappear. Left: Piedmont azalea (Rhododendron Canescens) The Pigments Revealed and Created Once the dominant green color fades, other pigments, which have been present in the leaf all summer, are finally revealed, and new pigments are created: Carotenoids produce the brilliant yellows and oranges seen in many tree species. They have been in the leaf all along, but the strong green of the chlorophyll masked their color.  Left: Maple (Acer flabellatum) Anthocyanin pigments are responsible for the beautiful reds and purples. Unlike carotenoids, anthocyanins are newly made as the chlorophyll disappears. Left: Flame leaf sumac (rhus copallinum)  The brown pigments are often the last to appear and are usually the result of chemical changes (oxidation) in both the anthocyanins and the chlorophyll. Left: Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum) The Role of Light and Weather Although temperature affects the formation of the newly made pigments in the leaf, the intensity and duration of light levels are mainly responsible for the brightest autumn colors. Bright, sunny days followed by cool, dry nights are needed for the most vivid color displays, especially the reds, because high anthocyanin production requires bright light. Conversely, cloudy, warm fall weather can lead to duller foliage colors.  The unique proportions of carotenoid and anthocyanin pigments vary between tree species, which is why we can see such a huge variety of colors, ranging from brilliant crimson and orange-reds to golden-yellow and light tan. The annual changes in color foliage are the result of a complex dance between light, temperature, and leaf chemistry. It's nature's way of preparing for the seasonal change with a profound chemical process behind the spectacular, ephemeral show we eagerly anticipate every autumn!   The Garden in the News! The Garden's seed banking work featured on CBS News A recent CBS News Project Earth episodefeatured the seed banking work of the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley with Curator and Conservation Officer Clare Loughran, and Assistant Curator Sophia Warsh! Check out the article and video to learn more about how we're protecting endangered plant species: Read or Watch More for you at the Garden Dawn Redwoods, UC Botanical Garden © Tom Killion 2025 California Treescapes An Exhibition of Woodcuts by Tom Killion On view through Sunday, November 9 Hours: 10:00 am–4:00 pm Exhibition is free with admission Don't miss seeing Tom Killion’s stunning woodcut prints of California trees and flowering plants, and his new multi-color print: Dawn Redwoods, UC Botanical Garden. This unique new work was commissioned by the Garden and is available for purchase online or in the Garden Shop. Learn More Fall in the California Collection Let our Garden inspire YOUR Garden! Saturday, November 8, 1:00–2:00 pm $5–$20  Horticulturist Jon Kanagy leads this seasonal tour through the Garden’s California Collection sharing both plant highlights and horticultural tips for working with native plants. This autumnal walk will focus on plants that bear beautiful seeds and berries this time of year, as well as California natives that provide classic fall foliage leaf-color change. Jon will discuss gardening activities you should have on your checklist, from bulbs to pruning, as well as recommendations for new plantings to consider before the rainy season sets in. Feel free to bring your native plant questions! Register Family Program: Trails and Tails Saturday, November 8, 10:00–11:30 am $8–$20  Join us for a hike through the Garden’s diverse collection in search of signs of animal activity! This 45-60 minute Garden hike will have lots of stops to explore evidence and sketch our sightings ‘from the field’. Register Save the Date Holiday Pop-Up Shop Wednesday, December 10–Sunday, December 14 10:00 am–4:00 pm Free with admission Enjoy a festive holiday shopping experience at the Garden's Holiday Pop-Up Shop. Browse a curated selection of unique nature-themed gifts in the charming, historic Julia Morgan Hall. Exclusive Members-Only Preview Evening (Registration opens Nov. 12) Including libations and raffle! Tuesday, December 9, 4:00–7:00 pm Not a member? Join Today! Join Today!   Members enjoy free year-round admission Give the Gift of Membership, or treat yourself! With a special UC Botanical Garden membership your loved ones can enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature, year-round! Membership benefits include a year of unlimited visits, exclusive member only events, discounts and more. Digital membership cards will be sent directly to you or your recipient by email either in 2-3 business days, or after Jan. 5, 2026, so we don't ruin the surprise! Your choice at sign-up. Gift Membership Show Your Support for the Garden with a Bench Tribute Have you considered a bench tribute? It's a wonderful way to support the Garden, creating not only a lasting memory but also a place for visitors to stop and enjoy the peace and beauty of the plant collections. Learn more about our bench tribute program on the website, or please contact Development Associate Melissa Chan at meliss...@berkeley.edu. Donor Highlight Sung-Hou and I became involved with the Garden in 2024 after attending a Redwood Grove concert. Why were we not involved previously? We cannot explain. But since then, we have brought friends to the Garden and become supporters of the UCBG mission of conservation, research, and education. Educational use of the Garden by UC students should remain a high priority; we want to encourage this outdoor laboratory for UC Berkeley students. Our tribute bench in the Oak Knoll is very special in that it allows visitors to enjoy the view of the SF Bay. It is a quiet spot where one can go and relax amongst the trees. We had visited many of the available sites for a bench, and this spot was a prime location. Our goal is to come often and become acquainted with the different sections of the Garden each time we visit. That way, when we invite friends to join us, we can help guide them through the grounds. The Virginia Halden Tropical House is a favorite spot to visit. We are impressed by how well the grounds are maintained at the Garden. The diverse plant collection with extensive documentation is amazing, and the commitment to preserve rare and endangered species is of utmost importance. Thank you to Rosie and Sung-Hou Kim for their generous support of the UC Botanical Garden! Holiday Hours Please note the following holiday hours: Special Hours: Open on Tuesday, Nov. 25 Early closure at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 26 The Garden will be Closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, Wednesday, Dec. 24, Thursday, Dec. 25, Wednesday, Dec. 31, and Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. Our mission is to develop and maintain a diverse living collection of plants, to support teaching and worldwide research in plant biology, further the conservation of plant diversity, and promote public understanding and appreciation of plants and the natural environment.  Give Today EXPLORE MORE: Visit, Collections, Calendar Credits: (1) Saxon Holt, (2-6) UCBG, (7) Tom Killion, (8-10) UCBG, (11) Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover Photography, (12) UCBG

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