Ah, yes, the changing of the leaves. Being a Blue Ridge boy, autumn has a special place in my heart for this reason alone. When the mountains change their deep emerald shawl for the colors of this cooler season, a person finds it impossible not to stop, stare, and swoon at the spectacle.

If you give in to the natural urge (or instinct) to head into the woods as the leaves change in a deciduous forest near you, without doubt you will have another little gift of autumn waiting for you: acorns.

Oak trees are one of the commonest, most indicative and even symbolic types of trees in temperate climes. And when autumn comes ‘round again, they get busy giving birth to acorns beyond measure. Tons and tons and tons of them. So many that even the industrious and devilish squirrels, try as they might, cannot eat them all.

This preponderance, this abundance, this cornucopia of acorns is great if you are a hungry, nutty little squirrel trying to fatten up for the chills of wintertime. But be warned: acorns can be hazardous to your health.

Think about it. With oak trees numbering in the mega-millions, and each one producing mega-millions of acorns in any one autumn brood, we woodland wanderers have potential hazards aplenty awaiting us. Once those acorns are fully aged and ready to “fly,” they come raining down like miniature bombs. And as autumn progresses, they seem to mature from timid toddlers to ornery adolescents and come raining down like teenagers racing their hotrods.

Read more of this story »