Sarah Lawson, associate professor of biology and director of the environmental science and studies program at Quinnipiac, has a passion for leaf peeping and is excited to teach others about the changing of leaves during the fall season.

Quinnipiac is fortunate to have one of New England’s best leaf-peeping spot right across the street from the Mount Carmel Campus — at the Sleeping Giant State Park.

“The Farmers’ Almanac is reporting that peak colors in Connecticut should be late September into early October this year,” Lawson said.

“Leaves change colors because they are absorbing different wavelengths and reflecting others. Most of the year, plants are absorbing all colors and reflecting green from chlorophyll,” she said. “Chlorophyll is a very expensive molecule so before the trees drop their leaves, they will pull the chlorophyll from their leaves and store it until the spring. The other molecules will continue to photosynthesize but absorb and reflect different wavelengths.”

Lawson’s favorite part of the fall is “really enjoying the forest ecosystem. There are a lot of known health benefits to being outside with the clean oxygen and peaceful bird sounds.”

Although it may seem best to rake the leaves as they fall, the best thing to do with the leaves is to leave them where they lay, Lawson suggested.

“Leaves contain a lot of carbon and other micronutrients that need to be cycled within our ecosystems,” she said. "When you remove the leaves, you are removing those nutrients as well as all of the organisms that are overwintering in leaf beds. Many of those organisms include some of the much-loved lightning bugs and other beetles and the cocoons of a variety of moth and butterfly species. If you still would like a grass yard, you can rake the leaves under your trees. Leaves will naturally break down throughout the winter. When you walk through a forest, you don't see a bunch of dead leaves on the ground year-round. This is because they are meant to break down and decompose. I am a big proponent of lazy gardening and leaving the leaves,” she said.