It’s that time of year—the nights are cooler, and your St Louis Toyota dealer knows that you are anxious to get in your last few days of sunshine. One of the best ways we can think of to spend a day is to take a drive to see some local color. Local color isn’t just about wild locations, however. Your Toyota dealer knows that a simple, easy, and better yet free example of the beauty of nature can be seen on every street at this time of year.

There are few things as lovely as when the leaves on the trees begin to change. Some trees become lighter green, some become orange or yellow, and some take on a vivid red hue. For a few short weeks at the end of summer, all of the trees are boasting exciting color before their leaves fall off for the winter. Imagine spending the afternoon in a Hazelwood park on a sunny day, picnicking under the colorful limbs of a tree on one of the last days of warmth. It’s hard to picture anything more peaceful than that.

Believe it or not, leaves don’t change color just because it’s cold. Your Toyota dealer has learned that their colors are actually directly related to how much sun the tree is receiving. As the days shorten, the tree receives fewer hours of sunlight. This tells the tree that it is time to get ready for winter. The color of leaves is actually a variety of pigments, and together they appear green in the summer. As the tree prepares for winter, it stops producing green chlorophyll. With the green gone, the other pigments shine through, giving us the beautiful display of autumn color we see in St Louis.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive trip through St Louis where you can take your time and appreciate some natural beauty, consider the autumn leaves. They are only vivid for a few weeks, and there aren’t many better shows out there.