Happy Halloween: Changes within a season and Reflections on mid to late autumn

This scene above is part of my regular commute to work. The view of the little white church nestled in fall foliage across Crystal Lake opens up after a long drive through kaleidoscopic tree tunnels this time of the year. Even though it is past peak it is still stunning!

On a different vibe, I also pass this less serene, but seasonally appropriate vista on my commute.

Within the "Halloween Manor" can be found this army of corn stalk zombies.  

I have not seen anything quite like this creative use of corn stalks before. Note exactly your friendly scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. I explored the history of more traditional ways of displaying corn stalks in a previous blog here. 

So far we have had a warm and colorful autumn, but that is about to change

let's review what has happened so far and what is to come. 

I like big words and I can not lie...

I find that specific words help to create a word picture that helps me identify and understand the seasonal changes I see around me. 

For example, 

The term for leaves changing color is senescence. 

The term for leaves dropping is abscission. 

The sound of gently rustling leaves is psithurism (from the Greek for "whispering")

As part of our free outreach program to local schools and community groups, our current intern, Juli Medeiros, presented an autumn show and tell at the Conway Adult Day Center. 

During the program she explored the image she is holding on loan for exhibit from the Conway Historical Society 

 

In studying artworks, it is important to look at the back .... 

The label on the back indicates it is not a painting but rather a chromo or chromolithograph.

The distinctive size, shape and color of the crop identifies it as corn. This is the origin of our modern decorations.

To learn more about interpreting the seasonal changes see the webpage that our intern Juli Medeiros created for the circulation display she created here.

Have a warm and happy Halloween.