As the first semester concludes and finals week approaches, I find myself thinking about the relaxing qualities that first drew me to my phenology spot, months ago. I thought more about the origins of my place, and how it came to exist.
Eastern white pines tend to grow in areas of acidic soils that are not typically old growth forests, and given the proximity to dorm buildings and Redstone campus, the pine trees could have been panted in the area after a large construction initiative. How humans choose to use it today is up for debate, but I am grateful of the little oasis it has provided me with during a turbulent first semester. In the upcoming year, I plan to revisit my space and view how the seasons develop around the pines, and who else will frequent the area.