Final Visit of the Semester
By: Amelia Weeden
December 10th, 2022
Revisiting my phenology spot for the last time this semester was melancholy, while it represented the end of my first semester as a student at UVM, it also symbolized the beginning of a new one, with new experiences. The foliage has slightly changed since my last visit; every single deciduous tree’s leaves have fallen, which contrasts from my last visit when a few of them remained . However, the Northern White Cedars maintained most of their needles, with only a minute number of them turning brown. The Buckthorns that make up a lot of the groundcover have also lost leaves since my last visit, although there were a few that were barely hanging on. The leaves at Rock Point have now started to decompose, but are not fully there yet. Many seem shredded or in the beginning stages of decomposition, but leaves still abundantly cover the ground and don’t appear to be in the end stages of their decomposition as a whole.
In contrast to some of the patterns we have learned in lecture, animal activity has actually appeared to slightly increase rather than decrease, likely due to the lowering influx of tourism this time of year. While this contradicts with the normal pattern of small mammalian hibernation during the winter months, it may also be my perception of ongoing animal activity vs. the actuality of animal activity. I saw a squirrel’s nest in one of the trees, as well as a few spots of animal scat, which is more animal activity than I have noted before. As a whole, Rock Point seemed the quietest it has ever been; with the combination of decreased human activity and no rustling of leaves, there was a new stillness there that could only be described as the coming of Winter. It was freezing, around 27 ° F, and the air smelled and felt crisp due to the low temperature.
Reflecting on Phenology
I thoroughly enjoyed this entire project as it motivated me to explore Burlington’s natural areas more, and allowed me to appreciate one in particular. I learned to love many aspects of Rock Point, but the ones I loved the most are as follows. Firstly, the serenity and calmness of the whole area were unlike any other place I’ve visited in Burlington. The whole spot feels so still, which I really appreciated in contradiction of such a busy campus. I also love the difference in landscapes within such close proximity to each other. The vastness of Lake Champlain and the forested rocky landscape above it compliment each other and make for an all around picturesque place. The aspect I enjoy most about Rock Point, as I mentioned before, was the quietness. Being able to immerse myself in such a quiet and natural area in the middle of a large city was an incredibly unique experience that gave me a newfound perception of quietness and wildness in urbanized places.
Rock Point Highlight Reel!
(AKA, the prettiest pictures I took at my phenology spot this semester)
