Long Beautiful Autumn

It's been a long and beautiful autumn this year. Our liquid amber tree has from pale yellow and minty green to deep dark red leaves just now, but this year, not as many purple ones, my favorite. I know the colors differ from year to year, and I'd imagine it has to do with moisture and temperature and such, but the tree looks so "red" this year.

A year or so ago, I heard on a radio interview that a Canadian (?) scientist discovered leaves don't fall on their accord, that the tree let go of the leaves as it prepares for winter. Kind of like parents letting go of children, no?

More autumnal pics.