BLAHHHHH!!!!…did I scare you? Welcome to another Halloween adventure from the Falls of the Ohio. Today, I have a special treat in mind for you. My name is Jack Blue and I will be your guide for the next five minutes.
If I didn’t scare you perhaps I fooled you? No need to be alarmed, my Belly Face has eaten recently. You should be safe while I show you around the local Halloween sights. Foremost in mind is the special Shrouded Forest that magically appears at exactly this time every year. It is weirdly beautiful especially if there is a slight breeze present to animate the spirits that occupy the branches. Most of them are plastic ghosts that have either floated here via a swollen Ohio River or drifted in with the wind. Here’s what I mean.
The degrading plastic lends such a festive touch to this area. As the polymer bonds separate and the plastic starts to disintegrate it hangs in decorative shrouds from the willow branches it graces. You can walk from tree to tree and admire these spectral creations of man and nature.
All this “magic” is the result of benign neglect. Whoever discarded this waste plastic sheeting probably wasn’t thinking it would wind up here draped in the trees like artificial Spanish moss. In case you were wondering…it also comes in different colors. Here are two other popular hues for your viewing pleasure and a special “snaky” surprise that might have you needing a doctor!
Okay, maybe this isn’t much of a snake, but if you were walking among the trees and looked up at some point…you probably wouldn’t anticipate seeing this? And now for the “Doctor”…hmm, I don’t think he will be doing anyone any good any time soon! Kind of looks like he could use a doctor himself.
Somehow I missed this bear when I did my earlier post on plush toys. He’s been laying under this willow tree for months now and I just happened upon him! Just in time for Halloween!
The truth is one doesn’t need to travel far these days to find a patch of ground not “haunted” by something that doesn’t belong in the environment. I hope all of you out there have a fun and safe Halloween and please discard all your trash in a responsible way. Otherwise, my Face Belly may develop an appetite for you…trick or treat?
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 