Map of Phenology Place:
Change is Constant:
Since the last visit, the ferns have turned brown and shriveled up. Four clumps remain green despite the recent frost and current snow flurries.
The American Beech and Yellow Birch have both have shed every last leaf. Each leaf on every maple has turned yellow, although many of them still have a green tint to them. Meanwhile, the Northern Red Oaks still have green leaves.
The brook is filled with fallen leaves, many of which have gathered together on branches or rocks protruding the water, slowing the flow to such a pace the water goes around the temporary dams.
Most of the mushrooms have shriveled up and many have disappeared altogether. Although squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and bears are known to feed on fungi, the culprit is more likely university students.
Despite not finding much evidence of wildlife, in the distance, many chickadees and squirrels were calling to each one another. This makes me inquire about the population size of these two species in Centennial Woods and how many other bird species pass through or live in Centennial Woods annually.
Poem:
As the flurries of snow dance
down from the grey, cloudy sky
the leaves huddle together
grasping tightly as fridged
water brings them together:
dragging down, gliding over.
Does the stream welcome every
addition? Persistently
wash every last leaf downstream
in an effort to become
transparent once again? Or
do the droplets pay no mind
to the colors dropping by,
like old friends who gather each
year to celebrate the end?