In autumn a stone disappears faster than in summer: under a layer of leaves, in a puddle or in the dark at half past four. Yet it is a wonderful season for hiding stones. People walk in the woods more, kids hunt for conkers and everyone looks at the ground a bit more closely. With a few small changes, your stone will still get found.
Put it higher than you would think
Leaves blow along the ground and cover anything lying low. A post, the back of a bench, a windowsill or the top of a wall stays visible; a spot in the grass does not. Rule of thumb for autumn: at least knee height. That way a finder does not have to dig through wet leaves.
Find a dry, sheltered corner
Under a small canopy, in a porch or against a wall on the side that gets the least rain, the stone stays clean for longer. Avoid dips and the bottom of a slope: that is where water collects. A good coat of varnish, as in our article on paint that stays put, does the rest.
Think about the light
Many people walk after work or school, and by then it is already getting dark. Choose a spot along a route with street lighting, at a bus stop or outside a shop that is open in the evening. In the woods too, a spot near the car park or at the start of a path works better than one deep in the dark.
Pick colours that stand out among the brown
Orange, yellow and red are beautiful autumn colours, but among the leaves they are also the best camouflage. Go for something that really pops instead: turquoise, hot pink, white or light on dark. A stone with a white border or a white background is the first to catch the eye at dusk. A fox or a toadstool on a bright blue background: autumnal and visible.
Write a hint that suits the season
When you tap “Place stone”, you can add a hint. In autumn it helps even more, because a spot looks different after a storm than when you left the stone there. Describe something that stays put, such as “on the second post after the gate”, and not something that disappears, such as “next to the big toadstool”.
Autumn ideas for your stone
A hedgehog, a squirrel with an acorn, an owl on a branch or an umbrella in the rain: autumn designs are easy and cheerful. A lantern or a little star suits the darker days, and if you are already looking ahead, paint a pumpkin or a snowflake. Use real leaves and acorns as models, but do not glue them onto the stone: they rot, and your design flakes off with them.
Turn it into an autumn walk
Take a few stones on a woodland walk and leave them along the way: one at the start, one halfway, one at the bench with a view. Check the map to see whether there are stones nearby already waiting for a finder. Finding and hiding also keeps your run going: every week that you place or find a stone counts.
Pop back after a week or two. If your stone is buried under leaves, you can put it out again or make a new one. A stone that goes quiet can always turn up again.
