The time has come! Today was my last (official, blogged) visit to my phenology site, and while I say last, it will definitely not be the last time I visit. Over the course of this year I have visited this site about six times officially with a purpose of recording a blog post for NR 1010/20. My first visit was in October, 2023, when leaves were first beginning to turn, and I visited through the leaves falling, snow piling up, and now spring as buds are forming. This experience has been a quietly impactful one, as I look back and think about the deep observations I’ve made without even noticing it. The practice of finding a space in nature is one that I think everyone should do. If this assignment has taught me anything, it’s to find a spot wherever you live that can be yours to connect with and adventure to consistently. It will teach you to observe, and to take a step back from the inherently hectic nature of life.
My site has gone through many phenological changes as I’ve observed it. One large change was the loss of plant life as the seasons moved into the long, cold winter. While this is a major change that everyone notices as the seasons change, an interesting part about this was seeing the plant life come back. Today especially was a perfect time to observe budding plants, and new stems poking out of the ground. Prior to this experience, I sort of felt like one day a year all of the green just comes back. However, after observing these changes, I’ve noticed that it happens a lot more gradually than that. It is also intriguing to observe the different kinds of plants and how they each come back from the winter.
In what ways do I think culture and nature intertwine at my site? I think Burlington’s values of preserving “urban wilds” is prevalent in this area. Centennial Woods, the site of my spot, is surrounded by UVM campus, busy roads, and urbanized areas. Nevertheless, due to public interest and cultural values/practices held in nature, I think the overall idea of Centennial Woods is very reflective of the cultural values of the area. Do I consider myself part of my place? Yes! I think any place your are present in you become a part of. I like to think that we are connected to places that we put energy and attention into.
What major/minor landmarks am I now familiar with? The large eastern white pine I sit underneath, a few square feet of metal fencing that was once standing around the tree, a small concrete block that has a half chipped off metal plaque, reading “CITY OF BUR-“. This block signals me to turn onto a different small path to walk to my spot.
Overall, this may have been on of my favorite projects we did in NR this year. It has created a tie between me and this spot, and I will continue to return and observe for years to come.
P.S. THANK YOU ELLA FOR A GREAT YEAR!!! You are seriously the best!