Supposedly, according to an old Native American story, celestial hunters slew the Great Bear during the fall and his blood, dripping on the forest, covered the leaves in red. When fat splattered from the frying pan, it turned some of the leaves yellow. Science tells us that during fall the true colors of leaves are revealed. Molecules of carotene, which are yellow, and those of xanthophyll, which are orange and red, are present in leaves all year long. At summer's end, which brings changes in temperature and day length, a layer of cork cells forms where each leaf is attached, cutting off the flow of water and minerals.
Leaves stop producing chlorophyll which is needed to absorb light.
As the chlorophyll breaks down and disappears, the hidden reds, oranges, and yellows from nature's palette paint the West Virginia hills with vibrant colors. When the cork layers dissolve, the colorful leaves fall to the ground.