Did You Know? Leaves Were Originally Red!

I recently came across a fascinating concept that I just had to share: the idea that leaves were originally red! 🌿🍂 It’s such a fun twist on how we typically view the natural world, and it got me thinking about the vibrant colours we often take for granted. Credit for this intriguing idea goes toGina Hamadey, who opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at the natural changes that happen around us every fall.

A New Perspective on Leaves

When we think of leaves, we often picture the lush greens of spring and summer. But if you look closely, autumn reveals something extraordinary—brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows hidden beneath that green exterior. The green we see during most of the year is actually the result of chlorophyll, a powerful pigment that helps plants absorb sunlight for photosynthesis.

Recently, I read a passage that beautifully captures this idea. According to her son Gina Hamedy wrote, "The leaves are always red, yellow, or orange. The chlorophyll is the top layer, because the sun makes it. So in the fall, the chlorophyll goes down into the trunk and branches, so all that’s left is the leaf's original color." I love this perspective—that the colours we see in autumn aren’t new; they’re the original, true colours of the leaves, revealed only for a brief moment before they fall. It’s almost as if the leaves get to be their truest selves just before they let go.

A Reminder of Life’s Cycles

If it’s true, then leaves only get to show their true colours for a short time before they fall. They’re a brief gift—a reminder that change is natural and even beautiful. This season, with its bright leaves, Halloween, and Day of the Dead, makes us think about both life and death.

As the band Wilco says, “It’s good to be alive. It’s good to know we die.” This quote captures the bittersweet feeling of fall. It’s a season that reminds us to notice the small, beautiful moments, to see beauty in endings, and to appreciate the bright colours we might usually miss.

The Science Behind the Colours

The changing colours of leaves are due to a mix of pigments:

• Chlorophyll (Green) – This is the pigment responsible for the green we see in leaves during the growing season. It’s crucial for photosynthesis, allowing plants to make food.

• Carotenoids (Yellow and Orange) – These pigments are always present in leaves, but they’re usually masked by the stronger green of chlorophyll. In autumn, as chlorophyll fades, these colours are revealed.

• Anthocyanins (Red and Purple) – These pigments can be produced in the fall, giving us those stunning reds and purples. Not all trees produce anthocyanins, which is why some leaves turn bright red while others stick to yellow or orange.

So, in a sense, the leaves really do have hidden reds all along. They’re only waiting for the right season to shine through.

Seeing Beauty in Change

There’s something wonderful about the idea that the leaves only get to be their true colours for a short time before they fall. It’s a reminder that life is ever changing, and that there’s beauty in the moments of transition. This season is a visual and emotional cue to appreciate the beauty of change—the way it brings out our own “true colours” as we move through different phases of life.

Lessons from the Leaves

The story of leaves shifting from green to red is a perfect metaphor for the changes we go through in life. Sometimes, we hold on tightly to our “green”—the roles we play, the expectations we have, or the routines we follow. But there’s a beauty in letting go, in allowing our hidden colours to show, and embracing the season we’re in.

So next time you see the bright reds of fall, take a moment to appreciate the fact that these colours were there all along. It’s a beautiful reminder that transformation can reveal something even more vibrant than what was there before.

What hidden colours do you have that are waiting to be revealed?