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