A mast-er-full Autumn #phenology

All week we've been seeing and hearing acorn after acorn dropping from our oaks, as the nuts and caps and leaves cover the drive, the deck behind the house, and the rest of the grounds, where they're less obvious. The dogs, each of which has a sensitive stomach, love to dash onto the deck, grab an acorn and gobble it down before we can deter them. At least locally, this is shaping up as a phenomenal "mast year." The red and gray squirrels, wild turkeys, whitetail deer, black bears and blue jays, among others, will be delighted.

the ground around the oaks is covered with acorns

Photo by J. Harrington

If oaks are as prolific in your region as they've been around here, it could be a great opportunity to collect an acorn or two to carry with you. We mention this because, since today is another #FolkloreThursday, we weren't surprised to come across this folklore nugget in our Twitter TimeLine:

For #FolkloreThursday

Carry an acorn to guard against illness and pain.

They were also known to aid longevity and preserve youthfulness.

one or two of these acorns may find their way into our pockets

Photo by J. Harrington

Other germs of acorn folklore can be found here. It's late for us to try to preserve youthfulness, but guarding against illness and pain is always prudent. We particularly like the folklore about oaks being a favorite of fairies. It fits nicely with our posting last Sunday, about fairies being responsible for changing the color of leaves in the Autumn.

Have you ever seen a lilac in Minnesota blooming past mid-September?

Photo by J. Harrington

While taking photos of acorns this morning, we noticed, much to our surprise astonishment, a clump of blooms on the lilac bush. Lilacs have always been associated with grammar school, end of school year and nuns issuing prohibitions on more bouquets of flowers that make students sleepy. We had a mid-Summer bloom on one of the lilac bushes in front of the house but attributed that to our cloudy, wet Spring and Summer. We've no idea what to make of a September lilac bloom unless it too has been caused by fairies.

The Song Of The Acorn Fairy

To English folk the mighty oak
Is England’s noblest tree;
Its hard-grained wood is strong and good
As English hearts can be
And would you know how oak-trees grow,
The secret may be told:
You do but need to plant for seed
One acorn in the mould;
For even so, long years ago,
Were born the oaks of old.

~Cecily Mary Baker

********************************************
Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.