Few can argue that there’s anywhere more beautiful than New England in Autumn. With air as crisp as a freshly picked apple and scents of wood smoke accompanying a crimson, orange, and gold horizon… Really, how lucky are we to experience such idyllic fall feels? But why is that the maples, oaks, and aspens (to name just a few) put on this stunning show? What is the purpose behind the carnival of leaves destined to drop? Let’s discover the not-so-secret science behind fall foliage as we tap into a bit of basic botany before experimenting with pigments as we learn about, and try to replicate, the colorful language of leaves. 

Willa Coroka (C as in “cinnamon”) is a nature gal, her heart at its fullest while flitting through the New England forests amidst the hemlocks, birches and pines. Willa graduated with her MS in Environmental Studies in 2015 after several years of seasonal jobs that took her from the coast of Chile to the mountains of Andalucia and myriad locations in between. Her deep commitment for preserving wild spaces and knack for evoking excitement in people’s perception of the natural world led her to create The Magpie’s Apprentice, a learning platform offering eco-centered lectures, presentations, and workshops. Willa’s spare time is spent propagating plants, designing curriculum, hiking, traveling, reading, and spying on birds.