Fall foliage in New England is beautiful, unique, and ecologically important. Specific trees, climate, and weather are all needed to create the wide range of colors we witness. Learn why some trees change color as they shed their leaves, and why the display varies from year to year. The colorful foliage display and subsequent leaf drop are part of an annual cycle that maintains healthy habitats. Discover the impact climate change is having on foliage, how fallen leaves function in an ecosystem, and how “leaving the leaves” in your yard or neighborhood can help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
This program is led by Tia Pinney, a biologist, senior naturalist, and educator working out of Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln. Since 1994, she has been involved in sanctuary-based and statewide adult programming as well as maintaining and enhancing the sanctuary’s habitats and ecosystems. Prior to working at Drumlin Farm, she was a high school science teacher. Tia grew up on a dairy farm in Connecticut and working at Mass Audubon has been her dream job, combining her roots in farming and natural history with her love of science and teaching.