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Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Acorn's Turn

Nature is waking up from its long slumber and pulling back the covers of snow. What we have is a sign of a new spring coming to life. I'm not sure there is a better sign of that than an acorn. This one in the picture may never grow into a mighty oak tree, but it can at least provide food for a hungry little forest creature.

That brings me to the odd thing though. This might be the first time going to this nature park when I didn't see any animals there. Not a single one. No birds. No deer. No geese. And most of all, no squirrels. I guess it's true that it's always darkest before the dawn. I know that the animals are only biding their time, waiting to make sure the coldest days of winter are truly gone.

I know they are still there. The evidence is all around. I follow their signs, their tracks. I see where the deer have been through here in the past few days. Their tracks in the snow at the sides of the human trails are becoming more numerous. They all seem to be heading down to the melting lake. The squirrels are staying mostly in their nests, but sometimes I see their little footprints on a fallen log here or there. What I mostly see is rapidly melting snow.

You know, I really liked the way the acorn and the acorn top in the first picture looked just lying there when I walked up to them. So after liking that scene so much, I decided to ruin it by flipping over the acorn top to try to make it look even better. Which one looks better to you? The first one is real, it's the way nature arranged it. This second way was shamelessly changed by me, in a misguided attempt at artistry.

I think nature is probably the best artist that has ever existed. I don't mind changing it one bit, because I am part of nature. We are all hands of nature. But we should admit when we change it or try to help it along. Trying to fool somebody with our meddling never really works. Even if they don't know, we know. My conscience told me that the first picture is the better one.

But back to this acorn. What does the future hold for it. Will it be crushed under a human foot? Will it be kicked aside to the dirt so it can try to grow into a mighty oak tree? Will a hungry little squirrel grab it up to sooth it's rumbling belly? I guess only this acorn will ever know.

15 comments:

  1. I'm hoping it ends up in the dirt and grows into an oak tree :-)

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  2. Gotta admit Ratty, nature did it best (I vote for the first one, sorry :o)

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  3. You have not seen any animals!! You should have not seen yourself then.

    You may khow how the acorn will be if you keep it. Alice should have told you.

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  4. I'm guessing that although you did not see the wildlife that graces your precious park, they saw you. Acorns are an essential food supply to many animals in the forest. Often the ones with caps fell too early, are inhabited by a small grub, and wildlife will avoid them. No way to know for sure unless you open it; if the interior has a grub (worm like) or if it appears rotten it may be or have been infested.

    Bill

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  5. I prefer the first one. Nature is an amazing artist. I generally don't try to set nature scenes as I have the same experience. Nature does it best. :-) Have a great day and thanks for sharing.

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  6. I think I like the first one, too, Ratty...it's really neat to see the small shadows the sun makes on these acorns. I bet there are critters around, maybe just laying low for a extra twenty winks on a cold morning. Probably wondering why you are out and about!!

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  7. I like the first one too. I wonder if little eyes were watching to see if you ran off with that treasure.

    Your post reminded me of those Ice Age animation films, with the hysterically funny squirrel trying to capture and hang on to his acorn through many trials and tribulations.

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  8. I agree with Jakill about the Ice Age movie! I like your shots of the acorn..

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  9. I think the squirrel will get the acorn. Those are terrific pictures of the acorn. Maybe tomorrow there will be some kind of animal or bird.

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  10. I like both the shots....they are both unique and even though you helped the second picture along just a little bit you didn't destroy anything and showed a different tale that nature could have told us!!

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  11. I loved your little acorn photo..and I like the first one, like nature left it best! But interesting thoughts, Ratty!

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  12. I'm with everyone else, I like the first one better, but you can't blame a guy for trying.

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  13. Even if you didn't see them there were surely many little eyes watching you. Probably a squirrel among them keeping an eye on that acorn.

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  14. I like to imagine that a cat came along and used the acorn as a toy. I bet it would be fun batting at it and chasing it along the forest floor!

    P.S. I don't have an opinion either way, but my human is with everyone else - she likes the first picture better. Oh well!

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  15. I have to agree, I like the first one as well. The critters are just hiding out, taking it easy and waiting for Spring to dawn.

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