15 WINTER TEXAN TIMES www.wintertexantimes.com NOVEMBER 19, 2025 Sales • Parts • Rentals Serving Valleywide for 35 years Easy Ride Golf Cars Call Us Today to Schedule Your New Battery Installation 956-580-3370 linnetezride@gmail.com www.easyridegolfcars.com 2508 W. I2, Mission New & Used Golf Carts ZERO Maintenance 10 YEAR Design Life 8 YEAR Warranty 40-50 MILES Per Full Charge Stop Hassling with Old Batteries with Limited Life We Now Sell & Install Lithium-Ion Batteries We Love Our Winter Texans! Thank you for making us your home away from home! Walking Distance to the La Plaza Mall and several restaurants. For Reservations 956-378-4046 www.mcallen-studio6.com 700 Savannah Ave. McAllen, TX Lock In Your Rates For Next Winter Winter Texan 7 Day Plus Special! $327.67 Queen Bed • $375.97 2 Full Size Beds • Nightly, 7 Day Plus Rates Available • Fully Equipped Kitchens • Free Wi-Fi • Outdoor Pool • Small Pet Welcome (with fee) • Guest Laundry Service PLEASE MENTION AD FOR SPECIAL! SPECIAL! 7 Day Plus e s s , - The magic and chemistry of fall foliage color COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The transition of trees’ colors from lush green to a variety of warm tones annually marks the changing of seasons, often inducing strong anticipation for a chance to catch a glimpse of the magic. The chemistry While fall colors appear as magic to our eyes, it is really a product of color and chemistry. Trees’ leaves contain pigments that play critical biological roles while also reflecting colors like green, yellow, orange and even brown. “During a tree’s growing months, chlorophyll dominates the color makeup of the leaf, creating various shades of green,” said Kimberlee Peterson, Texas A&M Forest Service Woodland Ecologist. “Beyond its color and perception to the human eye, chlorophyll is an essential molecule in the photosynthesis process.” As heat stress or cool temperatures occur, the chlorophyll and green appearance of leaves are destroyed, allowing other pigments to emerge. Although these pigments begin to appear under changes in the environmental conditions, they were present in the leaf all along. When pigments such as carotenes, xanthophyll and anthocyanin emerge, they often create the notable fall colors of red, orange, yellow, crimson and purple. Some Texas-native species contain anthocyanin, a key compound in shading chlorophyll later in the growing season to prevent excessive light energy absorption. The formation of this pigment is dependent on an accumulation of carbohydrates in the tree, the genetic properties of the tree and environmental factors. Texas-native trees containing anthocyanin include sassafras, sweetgum, bigtooth maple, red oak, Tupelo and sumac. The fall colors produced by anthocyanin are often more vibrant because the red pigment is intentionally produced to block sunlight. Some trees do not contain anthocyanin but instead have carotenoids which are responsible for helping trees absorb light energy for dormancy and protect leaves from sun damage after the photosynthesis process is complete in autumn. They can create red, orange and occasionally yellow pigments in the fall. Carotene and xanthophyll are subcategories of carotenoids. Carotenes produce fall colors of red, orange and occasionally yellow. Texas-native trees like black hickory, pecan and elm contain levels of carotene. Xanthophyll typically produces yellow and orange pigments; however, red, pink and purple pigments may also develop. Texas-native trees like ash, American beech and river birch contain high levels of xanthophyll. Timing and conditions As any fall color enthusiast knows, a tree’s fall colors are never promised — some years they may produce a swatch of perfect mosaic patterns while other years they suddenly drop their leaves with little to no transition. See FOLIAGE pg. 16 y t . t -
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