Today’s adventure was back home in Pennsylvania at the Yeager Pond. This pond has been part of our family sense before I was born, and I spent most of my childhood growing up hear. I learned how to swim in this gorgeous place, go on hikes in the surrounding forest, or catch little creature that live on the edge in the mossy muck of the pond. This place has been part of life and holds so many memories for me. I feel like it is only right to include this adventure and to appreciate the beauty and meaning that it holds to me.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yKY8tesKgTzprkhj9 – This is a link to the pond on Google Maps
This is a lovely picture of the pond. It was covered with snow when I visited and completely iced over and topped with snow!
This place is special to me because it holds so many memories, good and bad, but still, most of my life was lived in this place. It is hidden back behind a circle of trees, and it holds our family tree. It was planted there when my parents got married and still lives to the day. Many pets that have passed have been barred under this tree. It truly is the symbol of our family and is our family tree.
As my way of giving back to this land, every time I leave the pond, I huge the family tree. My parents started doing this with us when we were very little, and I have continued the tradition through to this day. I find it a way to give back to the land and appreciate the importance it holds in my life. It also lets me take a moment of mindfulness to consider my past and present and appreciate the things that got me here today.
This location is very different to Redrock in Vermont (my previous phenology spot). Redrock Park is a very unique biome that holds many cedar trees growing on very thin and acidic soil covered in pine needles at a high elevation. In contrast, the pond is full of oaks and red maple trees along with some pines and beech trees. It has a high variety but not the uniqueness of white cedar trees. This could be due to the location and altitude of the pond as well as the soil pH and moisture being closer to neutral and very saturated.
Though it might not be as unique as some other natural communities, this pond to me it the most special and unique place to me. It holds memories and love and reminds me the importance of nature and protecting its special areas such as this.