It's hard to believe that summer is almost unofficially over. Many of us think of it as the best time of year, to quote the three bears, "It's not too hot and not too cold, it's just right."

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Before you know it, the weather will be getting cooler, the leaves will be changing color and they'll be blowing across my yard. It's a great time to take a ride around the Southern Tier and see all the majestic beauty around us.

Why Do Leaves Change

So why do leaves change to begin with? It has to do with science and Chlorophyll. Without chlorophyll, the vibrant brown, gold, red, and yellow colors would be the natural colors that we see year-round.

As the autumn days get shorter, the production of chlorophyll begins to come to a halt and that is when we start to see the natural color of the leaf. So why do leaves fall? Hold on, let's not be in such a big hurry already. Let's enjoy the changing of the leaves for now and we'll chat about that soon enough

I like to think of fall as our second spring, where every leaf is like a flower...without all of the sneezing. We really do live in a beautiful area...now I just have to forget about the taxes and gas prices.

With the price of gas going up, you want to take a drive at the most optimal time to fully enjoy God's handiwork. So when will be the best time to take that drive? Scroll below to see when the leaves will look their best in your area.

CHANGING COLORS: See When Peak Fall Foliage Colors Will Be For Your Area

When will the leaves start changing near you? Get your cameras ready to snap some sweet pictures of the fall landscape and take a look at when you can expect peak fall colors in the trees where you live

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