The answer:

The answer is a tree!!! I was inspired to come up with this little quiz after having noticed how incredibly beautiful the fall trees were this year. (Was it just me or were they just extraordinarily colorful.) Congrats to Tara who had emailed me with the correct answer early the following morning. She was followed by Abe, Nancy, and Laura-Laura (who told me by the altar at church). Thanks to everyone who gave it a guess.