This is the time of year when Nicole Hughes gets constantly distracted by the fall foliage as she drives around North Carolina. "I'm always looking," says Hughes, a biologist at High Point University.

Native plants play a critical role in our ecosystem for beneficial insects, birds, wildlife and important microorganisms living in and on the soil. Native perennials provide a range of flowers that ...

Scientists have long questioned whether the vibrant colors of fall foliage serve an evolutionary purpose. One theory suggests red pigments protect leaves from sun damage, allowing trees to absorb more ...

The red fall colors are intense this year. They seem much brighter than previous years. Red colors are due to leaf pigments called anthocyanins. A main factor that increases the red colors produced by ...

Here in the Midwest, I somewhat look at our seasons as being a rotation of punishment and reward. In winter and summer, we are subjected to temperature extremes. During these times we get really cold, ...

Now that autumn has blessed us with its presence, the vibrant colors of fall will be commencing all over our region soon. Mother Nature will whip out her brush and paint breathtaking swathes of gold, ...