When I went to my spot for the first time, I was really just looking for a comfy place to sit and do some thinking. When I went back this time, I has just recently watched a movie called “The Theory of Everything” that put me in a real thinking mode. I looked at things from more of a microscopic level.
For me, my place is defined by the characteristic pines that surround me and the crunching of the yellowed needles that have fled their branches on the forest floor. The rock I sit on has also had a fluctuation regarding the amount of fungus on it- there is more spore coverage this week. I also really enjoy the walk to my place. It’s very accessible from where I live but the brisk uphill walk makes it all the more rewarding when I finally get there. When I’m there, I think. I don’t necessarily always think about phenology. However, I like to sit on my rock and ponder the days ahead. When my visit comes to a close I wonder when is the next time I’ll be able to come back. The nature of the Redstone Pines almost makes it feel like you’re indoors by the way they provide coverage above you. You can hardly feel light rain when you’re under it.
Seasonal changes have become pretty clear now that fall is fully enveloping us. As the flora has changed, I now notice how much more bundled up people are while walking past my spot. There were no hammocks stretched between pines this time. Most of the trees and other plants (besides the pines) have begun to turn a shade of yellow, orange, or red. Now, while there is still a carpet of needles, deciduous leaves coming in all shades of yellow and brown also cover the ground. Large pinecones still speckle the floor. I reached my hand down beyond the carpet of needles and pinched up some organic matter from the O horizon. I smeared some on paper and it was almost pure black and had a nice, rich smell. I guess that much of this organic matter comes from the decomposition of needles.
I was able to find two species near my place, besides the pines: Black Cherry and Norway Maple. The leaves of the Black Cherry have started to go orange, and the Norway Maple leaves are covered in large, black spots. I learned that these are the result of tar spot fungal spores, which can damage the tree. Its leaves are also beginning to yellow. There were also some straggly-looking woody type plants dotting the forest floor.