Seasonal Changes at the Sea Caves

Wow… where did this year go. I feel like just yesterday I was searching for a place to use for this blog. And now, it’s the last visit!

In the fall, when I came for my first visit, the Sea Caves were still blooming with green and life after a hot summer. There were many types of species and many cool water features. Through the time, the trees became bare, the ferns died off, and the ponds dried up. But, thats the way phenological changes go! However, I think the site is making its slow return back to that state. The branches of trees are starting to bud and the ferns are popping back up! The biggest change I have noticed at my site is the abundance of skunk cabbage in the understory. I did not notice much in the fall, but when I came for the last visit, it was everywhere! I remember noticing some plants pop up on my second or third visit to the Caves, but nothing like this. After a quick google search, I learned that skunk cabbage spreads quickly once established—especially in disturbed environments. I wonder if there have been more disturbances with street and residential runoff, or if it really just took root! How interesting.

During the time I’ve spent here, I have become very familiar with the major and minor landmarks throughout the site. The most obvious would be the lake. I have seen it both in peak algae bloom and when completely frozen over. In a way, I think I have created a bond with the lake, particularly after ice skating. The skating allowed me to explore parts that aren’t accessible to me in the warmer months. I was finally able to see the caves and map out the curves and bends of its shape. While visiting today, I saw many birds diving into the lake—likely looking for a late lunch! I would love to know the kind of fish and other species that live in the lake, and I believe that would further deepen my relationship with it! The next landmark is the small pond. I have seen this pond go through many troubling times from droughts to algae blooms. It seems like it struggles to find its stability. This may be something cool to explore later in my college career, especially if I need to do a project focusing on water health (kind of like the watershed project!). For non-water elements, I notice the rock cliffs full of cedars that nestle next to the lake. I’ve enjoyed its consistency through the warm and cold months as the cedars stay strong in the rocks solid base. Finally, the little wood stump paths that mark the trail have become very special to me. I love jumping across each one, like a fun game of hopscotch! I wonder how many bugs have found a home under these stumps. I wish I had taken the time to lift one up at some point and take a peak!

Nature and culture are constantly wrapping around one another, in ways that I imagine look like a lovely vine. Going outdoors is a huge part of Burlington, and even Vermont’s, culture. The area fosters environmental exploration and reflection. There are so many recreational opportunities here—ice skating, hiking, fishing, and more. Activities like these encourage learning about and building relationships with the natural world. Furthermore, the Sea Caves can inspire a culture centered around community. Many of the activities here are ones that are better done with others. People create memories here that are ever lasting therefore, strengthening the connection of Burlington’s members.

When I consider if I am part of this place, I find the answer clear. I do not think I am part of this place. In my eyes, place is something that only incorporates the natural and built elements of an area. I am a part of the community that enjoys and loves this place, but I myself am not a part of it. I would even say that it is more reasonable that the Sea Caves are part of Burlington’s community than we are part of its place. I think there is great power in connecting people to place, especially in a systems thinking mindset, however, I think we are more part of a broad ecosystem. By defining our relationship this way, humans are still part of the equation. My perspective still values environmental stewardship, deep human-nature relationships, and long-term care, but it does not impose on the essence of the land’s beauty and solitude. We do not possess this place, but its quiet presence becomes part of what Burlington’s community is. 

I have LOVED getting to know the Sea Caves at Arthur Park. Watching it change through each season has been such a joy, and I am thankful that I was presented this opportunity. Although there were times this project maybe felt like I pain, I deeply believed this blog has encouraged me to explore and note the small details of the greater areas of Burlington. Over this year, I have built a deep love for its peacefulness and serenity, and for that I couldn’t be more grateful.

I’m sure to see you again soon Sea Caves, XOXO!

Spring is in full action now, and I’m finally wearing shorts! All around campus, students’ spirits have risen again. And, it’s not only noticeable in the people, but the plants and animals all across the greater Burlington area!

I chose North Beach and the surrounding area as my participation spot for the inaturalist City Nature Challenge. Many of the plants are still feeling shy—not yet growing new green. However, especially in the understory, some exciting colors are arising. Greens, purples, reds, and more are scattered across the ground.

Inaturalist is an awesome resource to have right in my back pocket as I explore the GBA. It’s so easy to use, and the recommendations it suggests are almost always on point! I’ve applied many of the identifications I have learned through its recommendations in my everyday life.

While at North Beach, I saw so many cool things—many that I’ve never seen before. I found about nine really awesome species I wanted to document. Some of the organisms and plants I photographed were: a canada goose, black knot fungus, jelly fungus, and ground-ivies. Something I noticed was that the goose was alone. I thought they usually hangout in flocks, but maybe this guy needed some alone time! Hope, although whatever is going on, he or she is okay!

I was amazed with how many species have been globally documented in the nature challenge—nearly 65,000! And, so many people are participating. I think this is such a cool way to get nature lovers all around the world together and bonding over an activity! I loved the diversity of species found—from birds to trees to flowers to weeds. Many of the species had thousands of observations too, showing how widespread so many of these plants and animals can be! For example, the great egret was all over the world. The only major places it wasn’t observed in were Canada, Russia, Greenland, and the arctics. How cool is that?!

This project is so fun and creates a totally awesome global community. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to participate, and I can’t wait to see the overall results!

On March 31, 2025, I set out for my phenology walk around campus! The goal was simple: observe the phenophases of five different trees.

In all five trees, I noticed there were not many phenological changes underway. Spring is still so young, so I can’t say I was that surprised. Vermonters have been falling for Fools’ Spring, but the trees don’t seem to be buying it. In the five trees, nearly all the buds were still tightly closed and no flower growth was underway.

Norway Maple 3261 and Sugar Maple 618 have both started growing what I believe are leaf stems. I was not 100% sure on this, but it was my most educated guess. They were thin string-like parts growing out of the trees branch with a little ball on the end of each one. There was no leaf on these stems yet, but I assume they will make their way out shortly!

On Red Oak 615, there were a plethora of acorn caps holding onto the tree still. Knowing that the nut grows and then the cap, I assume these left over cupules (acorn caps) were from the fall. Furthermore, acorn nuts typically start to develop in the late summer or early fall, so it wouldn’t make sense for these to be new developments on the trees. Both on this tree and Sugar Maple 618, there are dried leaves that still hanging on! The sugar maple especially demonstrated this trend. I wonder if this has anything to do with marcescence–something that is seen a lot on American Beech trees. This trend is still undergoing research, so why it occurs remains unclear. Scientists theorize if trees keep their leaves to protect buds, collect moisture, protect their buds and branches from predators, or recycle nutrients.

While looking at White Oak 761, I was surprised to see something I had not before. It was a small ball attached to the branch that, at first, I thought was a fruit or nut. However, with the use of iNatrualist, I discovered it was a wasp gall. A gall is made of plant material and holds wasps’ eggs and larvae. I was worried this would be harmful for the tree, but after some googling, I discovered it posed no significant threat for the oak. Once the insects emerge, the gall dries up and falls right off. How fascinating!

Red Maple 280 had a feature that I hadn’t seen on the other four trees–flower buds! There were so many of them, but none had started to develop. They were small, red, and tightly closed. It will be exciting to see how they open and grow as the temperatures warm and spring goes fully underway.

When exploring NPN’s website, I came across an article titled “Are Plant and Animal Species Responding Differently to Climate Change?” Even though it makes me anxious, I think there is so much value in understanding how climate change is affecting our planet. The article shared that researchers have been observing and using previous data to compare phenological changes in over 2,000 species in the past years. They found that in plants, some spring and summer phenological events are occurring earlier than they did 40 years ago. Flowers and fruits are ripening much quicker, but leaf fall is seeing little change. On the other hand, animals are feeling climate change’s effect at a much weaker degree. These differences in responses create a mismatch between plant and animal species, reducing the likelihood of key processes that keep ecosystems functioning, such as pollinating.

These effects may soon be seen in the trees around campus. It will be interesting to see if the flowers develop sooner than in past years and if there is a rift between the animals, insects, and plants. Projects like these are valuable for many researchers as they use observations from the community on platforms like Nature’s Notebook. I am so happy I could add to this expansive database and enjoyed the taste of field data collection!

Tracks are all the talk!

Recently, in lecture, we have done a lot of talk around winter animal behaviors and tracking creatures in the natural areas around us! To explore this and put what I had learned into practice, I ventured off into Centennial Woods. This is an amazing area of land, especially as it is so close to campus. It’s close and convenient, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t full of natural beauty and critters. As I walked the snowy trails, it barely took anytime to find prints all around me! After the cray snow storm we had this past weekend and constant wind, the tracks seemed to be a little hard to see in detail. However, I was still able to make some good guesses!

While out in Centennial, I used iNaturalist. I really enjoy using this app. It allows you to add so many details about the organism you find, from species to geological location to any notes you deem important! I find it especially helpful when identifying plants as it provides a recommendation to what you may be seeing. Furthermore, it creates communities through projects and allows all sorts of people (scientists, students, strollers, etc!) to track what they’re seeing. I think it is an excellent tool for recording biodiversity and what is occurring in the natural world around us.

The first animal tracks I found walked in a hopping motion, with all four feet gathered close. The back two feet were side by side. I had forgotten my ruler AND my tracking guide (smacking my head!!!), so I used my hand for reference. The prints were small, maybe around 6.5 to 7 cm with each foot being around 1 to 2 cm. Also, there was a little print in the middle of each track, maybe where a belly or tail had dragged along? After snapping a picture and coming back to my dorm to do some consideration, I think it is likely a small mammal, maybe a chipmunk or squirrel! With the combination of the side by side back feet, hopping track pattern, and small feet, I felt this was an accurate assumption!

The next tracks I saw were clearly identifiable. This animal is hard to confuse with others, just based on size and geological location. It was a deer hoof! Although moose hooves look similar, it was easy to conclude that in this location, there were no moose nearby. The hoof was around 8 cm long and followed a sweet trotting pattern. I can only imagine the nice walk this deer was enjoying!

I then came across a super cool tree! The tree itself was pretty awesome but as I came closer, I noticed a spot that seemed to be a cozy den. It was about shoulder height to me, so maybe a little over 4 and a half feet. It was full of wood shavings which many animals use as an insulator in their dens! I don’t know the exact critter that would be snuggling up in here, but I imagine one of the smaller side. Maybe squirrel or chipmunk!

I was running out of day light and just as I was about to turn around, I noticed one last set of tracks! These ones threw me for a total loop—I had no idea what they could be! On one hand, they were tiny and looked like just two little ovals walking along in the snow. On the other hand, they seemed to follow a waddling pattern which is most common for animals who are larger in size. The tracks were side by side and had a sizable distance between them. Maybe the animal was running from something? I discussed the tracks with my friend Lilia, and she thought they could be a shrew. Quite the snow mystery!

Animal tracking has been such a cool activity to explore. Before I was introduced to tracking, I must have walked by so many tracks without giving them a second thought! I believe tracking makes me more present in the moment and in nature. I really enjoy the connection I feel between myself and the critters that roam the natural areas around me! I have begun to notice tracks all around, even as simple as a dog print. Further, it is always a fun guessing game on which animal I think it may be. The key thing trackers will tell beginners is that you can never be positive what a track is. Overall, I am so grateful for the mindfulness and presence this activity has given me!

We’re SO back!

Since I first picking my phenology spot, I had been looking forward to visiting in this time of year. People online raved about how fun the ice skating was and how cool the sea caves looked. Before the lake froze over, the sea caves were completely invisible which means that, although Arthur Park was still beautiful, it was missing its main attraction until now!

As I walked to the lake to lace up my skates and hop on the ice, I noticed how my site had changed. It was snow dusted now, and all the leaves had completely fallen to the ground now. My interest was peaked when I noticed that further up the hill, there was far less snow. The closer I got to the lake, the more snow there seemed to be. I wonder if this has to do with elevation. The lake was beautiful, covered entirely in a thick sheet of ice. Parks & Rec seemed to have come by as there was a path shoveled out on the ice for skaters to enjoy. I sat on the bench, laced up my too-small-skates, and looking like a baby deer learning to walk, scooted onto the ice!

The biggest difference I noticed in my spot wasn’t even related to the nature. People of all ages were now gathering here! Before, I hadn’t seen a soul except my phenology buddy and myself! It was so exciting to see the community gathering to enjoy such a fun area in Burlington. Couples, past ice skaters, little kids, and more were all here to enjoy the nature and serenity around us. There were even a couple cute dog prints scattered across the ground! Even with the whipping wind, people were completely immersed in the experience.

The ice was bumpy and nothing like an indoor rink’s pristine experience, but I think that’s where I found the most beauty. I noticed the layers of bubbles trapped in the ice, having been so close to escaping. There were logs and leafs that would be stuck until at least early spring. Lilia and I enjoyed finding little pictures in the bubbles, and our favorite was a smiley face that was clearly outlined. There were uneven parts of the ice that nearly made us fall each time we skated over them. As we did laps on the path, we noticed the ice starting to make a creaking noise. A little intimidating, but we knew the ice was thick, sturdy, and safe. Even with too small of skates, fear of falling over or through, and ankle pain, the fun was unmatched.

The sea caves were so cool. We had to appreciate them from afar as we weren’t sure if the ice was stable close to them. The dips and ridges of the caves looked amazing, and I was in awe of how cool their past is. If they could tell their story, I would die to hear it. It was amazing to finally see what was known as the highlight of this park. However, I think that not seeing them for so many months made me more appreciative of what else the area had to offer. Without the time I had had with the other parts of the land, their beauty would have been completely over looked!

Besides the dog prints and few bird calls, there wasn’t much animal activity. I suspect it is due to there being urban lands so close. I’m sure deer bounce through here and there. It was mostly just shoe prints that littered the area, coming from people excited to enjoy the first skate of the season.

I’m so happy to be back and able to enjoy new parts of this area. It has been so fun to create such an intimate and peaceful relationship with a place in the Burlington area.

It’s almost time to go home for the holiday season, but I squeezed in one more visit to the Sea Caves. The land is preparing for winter—trees are finishing losing their leaves to conserve energy and the pond is freezing over. Only a few trees are keeping grasp of their leaves, primarily American Beech. The undergrowth seems to have died off leaving the forest looking far more bare. The grasses that once stood tall around the lake have passed and now are relaxing down into the earth. Some berries and grapes persist through the cold but are beginning to shrivel. The leaves that once covered the trail seem to have been removed or relocated, likely by park management. However, the leaf litter that remains on the side of the trail is well on its way to decomposing into organic matter. Over winter, the nutrients from the leaves will work into the soil, providing a nutrient rich land for new plants to grow upon.

The presence of critters at the Sea Caves seems to have remained nearly the same. There wasn’t much activity before the season turned, and there still isn’t much now. A couple of birds flutter around landing on tree branches, but they never stay long enough for me to identify them. A few squirrels scamper around, presumably burying any last food sources for the long winter to come. This land is neighboring many urban areas which may be the reason I have yet to see any other creatures like deer and rabbits. The pond seems to still be fighting some algae growth which still aligns with my suspicion that it is cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria is able to fight against cold weather by fortifying its membranes against freezing. The smaller pond has slightly dried up, but I assume it will refill once the snow melt begins in spring.

I’ve loved visiting my phenology spot over this semester. It provided me a space to decompress and reconnect with the land around me. College is a fantastic opportunity to explore a new area, yet at the same time, it can be challenging to find a time to get off campus. This project gave a necessary reason for me to get out and enjoy Burlington. The sea caves have a little bit of everything, water, grasses, and forests. It was cool to enjoy all the different phenological changes in one area! Seasonal changes are always happening around me, yet for all these years, I have gone without noticing most of them. Now, I am fully immersing myself in the seasonal changes, and I have been finding similarities in how I and the land change and prepare for the changes in weather. Additionally, I’m excited for the hopeful promise of ice skating on the pond next semester!

• The now clear trail that is surrounded by decomposing leaves!

• The dying and thinning undergrowth and wilted grasses.

• The Beech and berries that persist even as the temperatures drop.

• The frozen ponds! The second photo shows the pond that has begun to dry and is still fighting algae.

Welcome to Rochester, Minnesota! This is where I grew up and is the place where I am happily returning on my breaks from school. Minnesota is known for its 10,000 lakes, but Olmsted, the county Rochester resides in, is the only county without a natural lake. All of the lakes are manmade! However, that doesn’t mean Rochester doesn’t have some lovely natural areas. There are plenty of beautiful parks, rivers, and even backyards that are jam packed with habitats and critters.

For my home phenology spot, I picked an area near our family friends’ home. They live out in the country, and their backyard expands out to a forest and even a river. I grew up visiting this home many times a year. Without even realizing it, I had been observing the phenological changes of this area out of their windows since I was about three. Now, I could analyze the area’s characteristics with the knowledge I had built in my classes to really enjoy what I was seeing.

The forest here was mainly composed of red and white oak, paper birch, hickory, elm, and juniper trees. Some of the trees are still holding onto their leaves, even as the first frost has begun to fall. Unfortunately, buckthorn seems to have take over and fills a majority of the undergrowth. There was a heavy organic layer on the soil from all the fallen leaves. This allows for the nutrients to be recycled through the system. The area is hilly, indicating well drained soils due to gravity. These factors plus the trees’ preferences all lead to a conclusion that the soil is slightly acidic, full of nutrients, and well-drained.

In comparison to the Sea Caves, the canopy is thinner and the undergrowth is far heavier. Both areas are covered in fallen leaves resulting in rich soils. The areas share common tree species of oaks and birch. Some species like maples, beech, and hemlock are not present in this Minnesota plot. Both the Sea Caves and the Minnesota area have acidic soils which is indicated by the tree species present. Further, the Sea Caves are on hilly land as well, likely meaning the soil is also well drained. It would be interesting to compare samples of each soil to see the differences in things like pH, particle size, texture, fertility, and more. Both areas have begun to prepare for winter, hunkering down with trees shedding their leaves and animals burying food.

Although I did not leave a physical gift in this area, our families celebrated Thanksgiving here. We left happy memories and gratitude to the land. Without this area and overall nature, we couldn’t celebrate the way we do. Thanksgiving and this project reminded me the importance of gratitude especially for the Earth. It constantly does so much for me, my family, my community, and more. I hope in the future to come back and help remove some of the invasive buckthorn that has overtaken this land.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by such healthy land and have the knowledge to understand what all the changes mean. Although I am giving back what I can now, I look forward to the days that I can put all my efforts to helping the planet around me!

• My new location!

• The over and understory!

• Buckthorn berries and a juniper!

• Some of the fun memories we made and people I am grateful for!

Back again at the Sea Caves! For this visit, we were instructed to sit quietly at our spot and engage with it using our senses. As I walked to find a spot to settle in, I noticed the thick layer of fallen leaves. They made a lovely swishing noise, and of course, I stopped to make a small pile to jump into. The trees were now so naked, and I could see the pond from the trail! When I was here a couple weeks ago, there was barely any visibility through the thick foliage. How quickly things change! The ferns and undergrowth seem to still be holding on, I wonder how long until they hide away for the winter. I observed the birch that lined the trail and remembered what we learned in class. Birch love disturbed soils! As I continued my walk, I considered how the pond may change for winter soon. Lake Champlain has been freezing over less consistently each year, so I wondered how the pond would react. It is much smaller and shallower, so I think there is still hope!

At my spot, the ground was damp, so sitting was a little less than ideal. However, the weather was perfect, so sit I did! While I sat, I noticed how barren the trees have become, except the American Beech. In lab, we learned that beech trees hold onto their leaves for far longer as they follow a process called marcescence. The sun was shining though, and I want to say the pond looked absolutely beautiful, but the algae bloom from before still hung around along with some other scum. It was still a nice sight though! The air smelled fresh with a slight undertone that seems to be warning of winter coming soon. I could hear bustling of critters through the woods and the leaves gently blowing around in the air and on the trail. On the ground, I noticed a plant I hadn’t seen last time poking through. After some debate with iNaturalist, I identified it as skunk cabbage sprouts. I have never come across this species before, so it was rather exciting! Finally, I noticed the soil around me. It was so dry, and it seemed to be composed of clay. I wasn’t too sure though. Its texture reminded me of how when limestone is rubbed, it will turn into dust. I wouldn’t be surprised if some limestone is present under the soils.

Can’t wait to see what next time brings!

• A new view now that the leaves have fallen!

• Hand-drawn, birds-eye view map of my Phenology spot! Note: I have yet to actually see the caves. I think to see them, you need to be on skates. I have marked where I assume they are, but there is no guarantee!

Welcome to Arthur Park! My original phenology spot was going to zone in on the sea caves at the park, but once I arrived there, there were so many exciting species and sights all along the trail. This discovery lead to a little change in my phenology area. I now plan to focus on the hill that lines the trail AND the sea caves! 

For me, the sea caves were an easy choice for this project. I really wanted a spot that incorporated water in some way, and this was a super exciting type of pond/lake and land form. Further, I wanted somewhere off campus that would allow me to see more of Burlington! Since I am from Minnesota, Vermont is a whole new landscape to me, and I want to see as much of it as I possibly can! 

To get to Arthur Park wasn’t too much of a challenge today. However, with the Burlington bus system, I can’t guarantee it’s gonna be like that every time… Anyways, right off the campus green, I picked up the city transportation bus 8 and rode it to the downtown transit station. The ride was nice, but I can’t lie, it was a bit smelly… But, you just can’t win them all! Then, I hoped onto bus 7. This bus was MUCH nicer and didn’t smell like a smoker had lived in it for 60 years. On this bus, I rode to the stop “Opposite Cambrian Rise.” Basically, the stop right across from the high school. I don’t expect this bus ride to be the exact same every time because there always seems to be something happening with the transportation systems, but I assume it will be similar! From that bus stop, the head of the trail was right there! The trail was short, maybe a half mile at most, and leads you to where the sea caves are. Or where they’re supposed to be… Today, they weren’t easy to see due to vegetation overgrowth and the fact that they’re easier to see in the winter when you can get onto the ice. 

The vegetation throughout the trail was a mix from young and old. There was decent undergrowth which was full of cool ferns and young trees. I assume it wasn’t as full as it may be at its max because winter is coming in soon. Young plants aren’t as likely to survive harsh Vermont winters! Mosses covered the grounds and rocks up the hill. The overstory was full of life: oaks, pines, maples, cedars, and more. On the hill that the trail is carved into, there was plenty of fallen and dead trees. I don’t know much about dead trees, but it was more than I would expect. Maybe strong storms had come through and knocked them down? Maybe the forest is cycling out old growth, and young growth is coming in? This is something I may want to look into sometime! Down by the water, there was what appeared to be a cyanobacteria bloom (or some kind of bloom). This was thrilling because we’ve been talking about it so much in class, but also sad as I know it doesn’t mean good things for the lake. I assume it’s coming from phosphorus run off due to the nearby urban areas, roads, and agricultural lands. 

I saw a lot of species in my phenology spot, even some that both me and iNaturalist couldn’t identify. There were some of those that I was able to make guesses on or at least assume the family they belonged in. There was one woody, root-looking species on some trees, and I have no clue what it was (I put a picture below)! The most common woody plants I saw were:

1. Eastern White Pines
2. Northern Red Oak
3. Sugar Maples
4. Paper Birch
5. American Beech
6. Alder Buckthorn
7. Hazels
8. White Oaks
9. Elms
10. Eastern Hemlock
11. Bittersweet
12. Northern White Cedar
13. Box Elder 

I am SO excited to start this phenology project. I can’t wait to see what it looks like once a majority of the leaves have fallen. I feel like I will be able to see the lake a lot clearer. I’m interested if I will see any animal activity at Arthur Park. Today, I saw a frog and some birds, but that was about it. I can’t wait to see what’s to come!

Pictures!

• Google Map of Arthur Park!

• The sign that greets you onto the trail!

• Bacteria or algae bloom in the Salt Cave’s water!

• Overstory!

• Little bit of the understory and the dead trees all up the hillside!

• The really weird thing on the trees that I mentioned. What is this??