In Pictures

The warmth of autumn

In many parts of the northern hemisphere, bright colours are livening up the countryside.

Autumn colours shine through — Across many parts of the northern hemisphere, the leaves are turning brilliant shades of reds and golds.

By Steff Gaulter

This is the time of year when the trees of the northern hemisphere give a particularly eye-catching display.

Just before the leaves fall from the trees, they give a final show of vibrance.

Painting the town red — These stunning colours are shining in Sheffield Park Garden, East Sussex, southern England.

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Every leaf is a flower — Every autumn as the days get shorter, the leaves begin to die and the pigment that gave the leaf its green colour, the chlorophyll, disappears.

Not a single shade of grey — Not all leaves change colour, and the vivid green of the evergreen plants adds to the variety of colours.

A technicolor dreamcoat for every tree — The russets of the autumn leaves was present throughout the summer, but was masked by the vivid green of the chlorophyll.