Denise Goldberg's blog

Monday, October 07, 2019

slippery

I expect slippery conditions underfoot during the winter; this year autumn has its own version of slippery in the form of fallen acorns. They are piling up on the side of roads, and along trails in the woods.

As I walk, I hear acorns hitting the ground.

acorns

From the Boston Globe:
Yes, there are a lot of acorns on the ground this season. Here’s why.

It’s autumn, and if you’ve found yourself anywhere near an oak tree, you’ve probably noticed that this acorn season has produced a bit of a bumper crop. They pop-pop-pop in the road as they’re crushed by cars. On the sidewalk, pedestrians tiptoe around them. They’re the bane of the bike lane.

The region appears to be experiencing a “mast year,” experts say — a natural phenomenon in the boom-and-bust life cycle of oak trees. Certain conditions, including the weather, lead the trees to produce a higher volume of fruit every few years.

“There’s definitely tons more around,” said Marjorie Rines, a naturalist with Mass Audubon. “It’s been coming down pretty hard and fast.”