October glistens with autumn jewels of red, orange, yellow, brown and purple. Each annual leaf display is painted by the weather which controls the rainfall, shortens the days and places a chill in the air. These are signals to the green leaves that appeared in spring and lasted through summer to stop and store energy through the winter for spring growth.
Leaf rubbings make beautiful fall cards. Fold a sheet of paper in half twice to make a card. Pick up a leaf and turn it to the back side so the leaf veins are showing. Place under the front of the card and use a fall colored crayon or pencil to rub across the leaf. Be sure to go all the way to the edges of the leaf.
Trace around a variety of leaves so that they overlap and paint with watercolors. Paint leaves that do not touch and allow to dry. Wet paint on dry paper is a good technique. Vary the intensity of the colors by controlling the amount of water. More water makes a lighter shade and less water makes a darker shade.
Join Ruby at 2012 unearth at Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo, Sunday, October 7 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ruby will do readings from her new book. Children should leave her station with a poem, a plant and a picture. Enjoy nature inspired artistry of 35 artists along the trail. At 5:00 p.m. enjoy the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra. For the complete schedule of events, go to http://www.icrc.net/events/unearth.aspx.
