Centennial Woods Phenology Blog

It was a dreary day out in Centennial Woods, but as they say, April showers bring May flowers. Despite the rain, it was quite pleasant walking in Centennial Woods today. I took my time getting to the Beaver Bridge so I could admire all the new growth of spring. I am originally from Florida so I don’t usually get to see different seasons. Our spring blends in with all our other seasons: sun, sun, sun, and rain. Vermont’s spring is full of vibrant colors and they were on full display in Centennial. As I walked I got more and more excited to see the transformation of the Beaver Bridge. Unfortunately, when I finally got there I was completely disappointed. The water level has dropped even more and there was almost no new spring growth. The only color came from the evergreens, the mud, the dead reeds, and the new green grass. Other than the grass the only other plant that was striving in the spring atmosphere was a Japanese barberry bush. While it was nice to see some greenery it made me sad that an invasive seemed to be the only thing thriving in this environment. I have been observing this sight for eight months now and I have seen it go through almost all the seasons. In fall, the pond was high and everything around me was green. Then in winter, everything turned quiet, the pond froze over and the landscape lost its color. In spring the pond reached its lowest point, and the landscape is still bare, but there is life in the forest again. Over these last eight months, I have become very familiar with this land. I know every turn by heart and I can even recognize specific trees like the one from one of my first posts with the many trucks that looks like a cage. I am now very familiar with the large hill that I have to climb to get to the Beaver Bridge, though it still knocks the wind out of me every time. I have become connected to this land in a way I did not know was possible for me. I have spent so much time here and have seen this place grow. Here at the Beaver Bridge human culture collides with nature. At the base of the bridge, there is always a pair of gloves and a shovel because humans strive to control nature. This land is constantly being looked after, primped and primed by the humans that use it.

It is quiet at the beaver bridge today. Only the sounds of nearby birds keep me company. The water level is lower than the last time I visited. It smells bad and the water has turned green. The only signs of life are the birds that fly by and the tiny fish that can be seen in the murky water. All the colorful leaves are gone and the landscape is turning brown. Thankfully there is still some color in the reeds, grass, and evergreens. It feels icky here surrounded by this foul smelling water.

I got to the Beaver Bridge today at 12:30 pm; it was 60 degrees and cloudy. The water was shallow (0-5ft) and clouded with sediment. It was wet out today, so the banks of the pond were very slippery. In the shallowest parts of the water and all along the bank there are common reeds and various grasses growing. A couple feet from the bank there are shrubs and trees growing. There are barberry bushes, maple trees, northern white cedars, and eastern white pines.