Welcome back to my phenology blog! This blog, like nearly everything else at the moment, has changed. I took the picture above on my way back from moving most of my stuff out of my dorm at the end of spring break. I wanted to capture this beautiful Vermont sunset, knowing it would be a while until I saw one again. The coronavirus crisis has forced UVM into remote learning, so I write this from my home in Acton, Massachusetts. Many times in high school I complained about how “boring” Acton was and how there was nothing to do, but during social distancing, the suburbs are a pretty nice place to be.
I have been walking the dog and running around my neighborhood pretty frequently since social distancing began, and I have been really noticing the natural environment around me. The picture above was taken in my backyard last week. My dog is really enjoying everyone being home all the time! Although the trees in this image look mostly leafless, I have started to notice buds and blooms in my recent walks around the neighborhood. In the left of the foreground of the above picture, there are some forsythia bushes that are just starting to bloom, even though you can’t really see it. I suspect by the next blog post they will be bright yellow and in full bloom. I have also noticed some crocuses and other small flowers poking through the soil next to the sidewalks.
These little signs of spring have been giving me hope in these difficult and confusing times. I have always found the natural world to be a healthy escape from day-to-day stresses and hassles, so I find myself going outside (and maintaining social distance!) more and more often these days. One of my favorite signs of spring is the sunset getting later each and each day. I have always loved sunsets, and until I can see another UVM sunset, this not-too-shabby view from my backyard will do.
