The nest (my spot) looks a lot different from the last visit. I figure this has to do with the temperature drop since, when I am writing this, it is November. Leaves are a faded yellow-brown. They are covering the ground. There are so many leaves that I almost slipped! Bare tree branches make it easy to note deciduous and coniferous trees. A lot of eastern hemlock needles eare still intact. I did not know there were this many eastern hemlocks.
Yes…another phenology assignment is being completed in Centennial Woods. You can’t go wrong with Centennial Woods. It is the epitome of environmental science. My spot is about a 30-minute walk from the Wing-Davis-Wilks building on Redstone (my residency). This is where my spot is:
I will refer to my spot as “The Nest” throughout this blog. The nest is centered around various decomposing trees. I chose this spot as an opportunity to observe life recycling itself and how decomposition contributes to the forest’s ecosystem. These are the directions to get to The Nest from the entrance of Centennial Woods:
You’ll pass by a stream on the 3rd and 4th bridge.
3. You’ll walk up a hill and reach an open space. The direction of the trail may seem confusing because the space is circular and big. It will seem like it’s going in multiple directions…but turn right.
4. Afterwards, you’ll walk up a pretty steep hill. When you get to the top, you’ll find a tree with multiple trunks stemming out of the ground. Turn left.
5. There will be a fallen tree in the middle of the trail. This means you’re going in the right direction.
6. You’ll reach another spot where the trail splits. Go right.
7. Walk a few more paces and, to the right of you, you’ll find a large dead tree laying across a large mound of soil. This is located at the top of a hill. The lower trunk is still intact on the ground but the rest of the tree is not. Dead branches are laying vertically on the side of the main part of the tree. You have made it!
The largest decomposing tree is an eastern hemlock. Smaller eastern hemlocks are surrounding it. Various forms of fungi and moss are growing on the decomposing trees. Wood ferns are growing a few inches away on the ground.
Fungi
Moss
Ferns
Eastern hemlocks are the dominant woody plant in the area. The eastern hemlocks vary in height and bark development.
The trees that weren’t eastern hemlocks were red maples, black cherries, American beeches, white ashes, and butternuts.
