The roaring sound of cicada tymbals has noticeably quieted. The next generation of periodical cicadas is young and silent. After hatching from eggs laid in trees, they will fall to the ground and tunnel into the earth, where they will live in darkness for years. These days it is the lightning bugs who are putting on a show.
A recent art project of mine was a white oak acorn sculpture. White oak trees are prolific throughout eastern and central North America. In autumn, their ovoid acorns change their hues from green to brown and fall from their branches. They collect on the ground and are inspected by squirrels, chipmunks, blue jays, and me.
