In spirit of the city nature aspect of this challenge I chose to take some time and reflect upon the nature that I see the most. I walk from campus to downtown Burlington multiple times a week for work and the trip has become somewhat monotonous over the months. Trekking through the snow and rain can be quite the task after a day of classes. However last week I embraced the elements as well as the changing seasons and appreciated the nature that I pass by on a regular basis. While I was walking home in the pouring rain I felt an immense appreciation and respect for the natural processes that many of us take for granted. I am from a temperate rainforest and have always loved the rain. Especially knowing that lush greenery and bright flowers usually follows after. I think this is why I became inspired to identify the plants along my walk, as a sort of appreciation of the mundane.
My walk seemed to change now that I had given it a new purpose. I observed the plants closely and thought about how they fit into their landscape and ecosystem. I identified five species that included trees, shrubs, and flowers. Some notable species were Corydalis solida a small flowering plant with fern like leaves, Forsythia a yellow flowering bush in the olive family, and finally an apple tree which is most likely a Crabapple tree. After looking at the city nature challenge website I was shocked to see how widespread this challenge is as well as its impact in bringing people together to celebrate nature and biodiversity. Happy Spring!
