Saturday, December 10, was fourteen degrees outside. The cold, sharp air and bits of frost on the grass made it feel like it was really winter. Although Centennial Woods did not look as alive as it once did in September and October, it was alive in other ways. One of the more noticeable changes to the forest was the decreasing amount of leaf litter on the ground. There was none running through the stream and some were scattered around the sides. When you looked up, only coniferous trees had there foliage intact, while the other hardwood trees were bare.
Throughout my time that I have come to observe Centennial Woods, I have been unsuccessful in seeing any signs of animal tracks. I do see birds every now and then, and there was even a woodpecker to great me this morning at the entrance.
This cold morning brought a lot of change to the forest, especially the brook. The running water trailed down the forest, but a large portion of the creek was frozen at the top. It was not completely froze, one could see the latter part of the creek at the end running. It was interesting to see how much the creek and changed since I had been at the spot in a month. The creek’s speed did not decrease at all, and seemed to be faster if anything.
I choose Centennial Woods because of its close proximity to my dorm, but as I travel more often to the woods, I have increasingly enjoyed my experiences at the sanctuary within an urbanized city. Centennial Woods reminds me of the woods in my town, a natural area surrounded by roads and pavement. I think my favorite part of Centennial Woods is the fact that once you enter, it feels like there is no highway or town nearby. The natural community within the woods have adapted and thrived under the conditions that the forest is surrounded by, and continue to be lively. Besides the casual plane flying overhead, Centennial Woods feels like its own special far away place, and i thoroughly like how it makes me feel.
