https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&authuser=0&mid=1ZGAVWTQ7odFZq2zqIYa2T0FN9FY&ll=44.45118497355105%2C-73.19495740000002&z=18
Hello and welcome to my phenology blog! As part of my NR1 assignment, I will be exploring a specific site in the Burlington area for the next few weeks. The site that I chose is centered around a tributary of Potash Brook in South Burlington. I-189 is immediately to the south of the site, and a small residential neighborhood is immediately to its north.
The site is directly south of the UVM campus. To access the site, pick up the South Burlington Recreation Path next to the Gutterson Field House, and follow it south for about 1.5 miles. Stop when you reach a distinct wooden bridge that crosses a shallow stream. Venture off to the right of the bridge and down the hill that surrounds the stream, and you have found my phenology site.
While I find my phenology site immensely peaceful, I would be lying if I said I did not choose it for purely practical purposes as well. I had a couple practical reasons for choosing my site. Firstly, the site is very close by, and less than 10 minutes away by bike. Secondly, the Burlington Rec Path is a simply beautiful bike ride. Thirdly, the site is on its way to Chipotle, which is a favorite addiction of mine. Also, I wanted to choose a site that no one else would have, and venturing outside of the Burlington town boundary was a good way of ensuring that.
There are moderately steep hills on both stream banks at my site. The most dominant tree species at the site is definitely Eastern Hemlock. The hemlocks line the left and right sides of the banks, and provide a fairly large shady area. There are some maples, birches, and green ash trees farther up the hill from the stream bank. The stream is crisscrossed with numerous downed trees, which is likely a result of erosion. For undergrowth, I saw numerous Glossy Buckthorn growths, some ferns, and a few Barberry and Japanese Knotweed plantings. I also noticed one low-lying vegetation species that lined both banks that I could not identify.
More site updates are to come!
A plant species I saw a lot of but could not identify (McHale, 2016)
A view from the top of the bridge. (McHale, 2016)
A photo of the site looking south. (McHale, 2016)
