For our October meeting we welcomed Adam Wheeler of Broken Arrow Nursery.

Adam shared with us a Power Point presentation of “Fire Engine Red, Russet and Bronze: A Look at Trees and Shrubs for Fall Color.”  We learned why trees change color in the fall season.

There are three types of pigments that are involved in Autumn color, they are Carotenoids which produce yellows, oranges and browns, Anthocyanin which produce reds, purples and blues, and Chlorophyll which gives leaves their basic green color.

During the growing season, chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanin that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors.

Our Horticulture Table featured Halloween arrangements incorporating vines into the designs.

Our “What’s in Your Garden” display was a colorful collection of flowers from members’ gardens.

A special arrangement was designed by Debby Garrow to honor the memory of member Janet Spann.