Behind every autumn leaf lies a chemical shift-chlorophyll fading, carotenoids glowing, anthocyanins rising-that turns survival into spectacle. Every autumn, landscapes across much of the world ...

This is the time of year when Nicole Hughes gets constantly distracted by the fall foliage as she drives around North Carolina. "I'm always looking," says Hughes, a biologist at High Point University.

For gardeners, few sights rival the breathtaking transformation of leaves in the fall. The fiery reds, golden yellows, and deep purples bring a sense of wonder to the landscape while signaling the ...