MW continues the Codes, Ciphers, and Puzzle series with the following image. At first glance you might think the border around the cute dog is merely decorative. However, it hides a message!
Can you solve it?
The image was used in the 2006 Secrets of the Alchemists Dar armchair treasure hunt that has now ended. But there is a lot to learn from past hunts and that is what the MW series is about. Learning how past puzzles have been solved helps to better recognize them in current or future armchair hunts of today.
So what cipher is used in the image to provide a hidden message? What is the solution?
The different number of leaves and flowers, with closed buds sometimes between, offer a hint. They are 3 differentiating elements, which is needed for Morse Code. Although Morse Code normally uses ‘dots, dashes, and spaces’ to communicate a message, ANY 3 differentiating elements can do the same.
In the image, the flowers are ‘dots’, the leaves are ‘dashes’, and the buds mark a space between words (To note: a space is needed moreso to mark between letters, and so it is the space between the various flower/leaf groupings that is the actual third element). The buds, in this case, are actually extra help.
So let’s apply Morse Code to the flower/leaf groupings and see what we get:
The answer reads from the upper right, counter clockwise.
Solution: One mans junk is another mans treasure
Now how about this one? It’s a bit more tricky. Tip: take notice of the direction of the Dandelion Stems.
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