Why is this the answer?

The answer is tree because this special riddle is actually describing the different ways a tree looks during the four seasons of the year. It uses wonderful picture words to help you guess the answer by painting a clear image in your mind. Let us look closely at the first part of the riddle: "Reaching stiffly for the sky, I bare my fingers when its cold." This part is talking all about what happens when the winter season arrives. When it is cold, a tree loses all of its leaves, does it not? The long, skinny branches of the tree stretch way up high, like stiff arms or fingers reaching toward the sky. They look bare because all the beautiful green leaves have fallen to the ground and are gone until the warmth of spring returns. So, the "fingers" are the branches, and "when its cold" means the quiet, chilly time of winter. The tree is patiently waiting for the sun to come back and warm it up. Next, the clever riddle says, "In warmth I wear an emerald glove." "In warmth" means when the sunny, nice weather comes back, like during the spring and summer months. What does a tree grow when it gets warm and sunny? Its leaves grow big and full! The leaves are very green, and the riddle calls this color "emerald," which is a special word for a bright, deep green color, like a beautiful, shiny jewel. The tree is covered in so many leaves that they look like a soft "glove" or a cozy coat covering all the branches, keeping them nice and healthy in the warm weather. Finally, we have the last clue that brings it all together: "and in between I dress in gold." The time "in between" the warmth of summer and the cold of winter is the beautiful season of autumn, or fall. What magical thing happens to the leaves in the fall? They change color! They turn wonderful, glowing shades of orange, red, and, especially, bright gold or yellow before they flutter down. So, the tree wears its most beautiful golden clothes just as it gets ready to drop its leaves and wait for winter to start all over again. Because the object in the riddle has stiff, bare branches in the cold, green leaves in the warmth, and golden leaves in between, the only answer that makes perfect sense is a tree. It is one of the most amazing natural things to watch as it changes its clothes with the seasons every single year!