Month: October 2018

Gold Leaves Have Fallen

As I approach my site new golden leaves cover the ground. The trees with there bare branches almost look cold as a chilly breeze runs through them.  The yellow contrasts with the greens and browns and reds still present but it compliments the sun rays striking through the thin canopy. Many of the flowers have bent low under the pressure of the changing season and so fall has started. The preparation for winter is happening.

Some other changes I spot on this visit from last are the changing colors of most plants against the everlasting green of the few coniferous trees in the area. Also the temperature is only about 10 degrees cooler than last time.  The little canopy cover my spot had before is even less now letting more light to hit the ground in certain spots. And the large red stone cliffs look as if nothing has changed.

Last time I was here I heard quite a few birds but it is eerily silent today.  I spot some squirrels in the woodier area leading up to my spot. Along the trees I see remnants of some nests from this previous spring and summer. I don’t have enough time to go scouring for holes that could promise burrows under the ground. The largest water spot a small pond is covered in duckweed which makes me think very little is below the surface. In another water area I see some water bugs and small organisms in the water but nothing prominent.

Map

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&mid=1fr4811ihB11M3tVPR_e9f72569u8GSkF&ll=44.46185269349739%2C-73.20520794999999&z=18

The Start

I choose Redstone Quarry for a few different reasons. One it is a natural area that I have not explored before and is still relatively close to my dorm. The other main reason I choose it is because, as the name suggest, it is where the dorm I'm is was built from. I live Redstone Hall that has these magnificently huge blocks of Redstone and so I thought it would be interesting to see where is the ground they came from and how that area is today. 

The location, as expected, contains lots of exposed stones but nestle next to it is some vegetation and a few different water spots. Some of the vegetation includes: Glossy buckthorn, some fir trees, juniper cedar, Dogwood, cattails and more left to be identified.

While I visited I saw lot of different animals too, many different birds, heard some crickets, and saw some dragon flies.

Direction to get there from Redstone campus it to take S.prospect to ledge street and right after the small intersection of Ledge St. and Iranistan St. the tree line on the left side of the street opens up to a small path that leads down into Redstone Quarry.  In the next post will be a google map of it!