Color shifts

Color shifts of the autumn keeps amazing me. Year after year I am flabbergasted by the beauty the leaves produces. Especially puzzling is when the same species changing colors weeks apart. Where some Japanese maples, Acer palmatum, are in yellow, red and orange clothings, others are still full green.

This is often related to varieties within the specie, that will develop different genetic codes when sown by seeds. When light decreases the tree goes toward shedding the leaves and the green will be broken down. Then the reddish, yellow and oranges hidden beneath will shine. Colors will be even more vivid in colder periods.