Massachusetts’ beautiful fall foliage varies from year to year, and depends in part, on the weather leading up to the autumn. Bright, sunny days, with cool to cold nights and moderate rainfall often form the best recipe for fall color. In years with heavy rain or high winds, many of the leaves become damaged or decay prematurely; those that do last until the autumn rarely produce such wonderful colors. Soil chemistry affects the color of some leaves. Many maple tree species produce red leaves when kept in acidic soils; neutral or basic soils produce yellow leaves.