(In the style of Leopold, Oaklands forest was the choice of my phenology place over the break) As you enter the clearing of the parking lot you are taken back by the clearing of trees for the parking lot as well as its proximity to the road and two houses. This modernization would deter most as it takes away from the beauty of the forest. However, as you enter and walk the trail all sense of modernization is lost with the stream trickling beside you and the snow crunching between your feet. As you stumble upon the place you are greeted with sunlight and the snow providing a great contrast to the dark greens of the eastern white pines and eastern hemlocks that dominate the area. In the shadows of these great overstory trees, there are forested field edges providing great habitat for the small mammals that are still active in the deep snow. Many grey squirrels are still frolicking around and scavenging under their habitat from the fallen down trees and brush that remains. From the last visit to this spot the activity of the birds has died down, but like the squirrels, they are busy at work to survive the cold winter months. The beauty of this spot is accentuated with the partial clearing created by understory trees creating a sunlit area and is why nature is held so close to my heart.
(Written in the style of Wright) This phenology place was chosen as it holds meaning to me due to the amount of time I have spent walking those trails and its resemblance to my place here in Burlington. Centennial woods and Oaklands forest hold so many similarities you can noticeably see walking the trails. The tree species include many of the exact species found in Centennial woods such as eastern white pine and eastern hemlock. A brook runs right through the middle of both creating similar riparian areas and the same beautiful sound that plays on as you trek through. The wildlife inside the Oaklands forest is much busier than that of Centennial woods in my findings and much more forested field edges could be the reason for this difference. Oaklands forest allows for much sunlight to pierce through allowing for the beginning of understory growth whilst Centennials over story creates much shade that prevents a lot of understory growth. This provides contrast between the forests in the composition as many trees have been cut in the past in Oaklands until recently. The two phenology places share many similarities and create a great comparison between the two with the aid of some contrast between the two.
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