QUIZ YOURSELF: Can you name that tree?
While we're all looking at the leaves, how well do you know your Canadian trees and shrubs?
All eyes are on Canada's trees as they start to turn bright shades of red, orange, and yellow.
It's a sign of the times—with fall-like temperatures descending upon us.
Colours typically peak in late September and early October, so get your cameras ready.
WHY DO THE LEAVES CHANGE COLOUR?
"Temperature plays a factor in the coloration of trees, but the most important factor is called the photo period, or the length of daylight," horticulturalist Bob Osbourne of Cornhill, N.B. tells The Weather Network.
"The shortening of the number of hours of daylight is the trigger for trees to start shutting down. A cork-like layer forms between the leaf stem and the branch, which will eventually fall off and it also protects the tree from any kind of fungal or bacterial infection. As it shuts down, it begins to stop water and nutrients from coming into the leaf and the chlorophyll dies."
But while we're all looking at the leaves, how well do you know your Canadian trees?
We assembled some stunning fall photos. Take a look through the gallery, and see how many leaves you can identify.
