Cornell Plantations staff members invite the Ithaca community and visitors from far and near to visit the campus gardens and natural areas to enjoy a colorful, dynamic landscape as it changes to its autum wardrobe.

"As the days shorten, the production of chlorophyll, which is responsible for the green color in leaves, slows down. This allows the carotenoids (the yellow and orange pigments), which had been masked by the green, to be revealed," explains Donald Rakow, director of Cornell Plantations. "Few trees display this better than our native sugar maples."

The brilliant red colors are a result of late season production of anthocyanin -- another leaf pigment, the Plantations director notes. Red maple cultivars developed specifically for their fall color can be seen in the Plantations' arboretum. Among other sensory experiences available to visitors of Cornell Plantations are:

• Fall fruits hanging from the euonymus and barberry bushes and crabapple trees.
• Profuse blooms of both the native and cultivated asters and goldenrods.
• Ornamental grasses and perennials such as Boltonia, Anemone and Cyclamen, which are at their peak.

"Take advantage of these last warm days and watch nature prepare itself for winter," Director Rakow suggests.

Cornell Plantations' grounds are open to the public, free of charge, from dawn to dark each day. Information on Plantations classes, including a free education brochure, is available by calling (607) 255-2407. For other information, call (607) 255-3020. Or visit the Cornell Plantations website at http://www.plantations.cornell.edu to get the online guide to the Plantations Path as well as schedules of Plantations classes and special events.