Spring in Centennial
For the final installment of my blog, I took one more walk out to my phenology spot. Spring was definitely in bloom! Ostrich ferns, interrupted ferns, and birds, chipmunks and more took over the area. There was a beautiful green hue throughout the woods, and I had a truly peaceful experience. In addition to all the animal and plant life, I ran into quite a few people as well. Some running, others out for a walk with their pup, and some just wandering like myself. Centennial is truly a natural hub for the community around Burlington. It serves as a close to home escape from the urban world; when you’re there you wouldn’t even guess that the bustling city was less than a mile away. For this reason, I consider Centennial a place where nature and culture go hand in hand. Without the people who use it for recreation, the area loses a lot of its glow, per say. The peaceful relationship that the people of Burlington have with these woods is a relationship like none other.
I do fully consider myself a part of my place. Today, while I sat in the dry pine needles around my site, watching a chipmunk root through the under brush, I felt truly connected to what was around me. I watched and listened to the birds that flew above my head; I let my boots get sucked into the mud with each step I took. The ultimate way to respect and care for the natural world is to consider yourself a part of it. Once you separate humans from the rest of the natural world, you create a barrier of destruction and ignorance. Be present in each and every moment you spend outside. You are a part of the larger working system of the world. And if you sit still, stay quiet, and look for just long enough, you might be able to feel it.
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