Phenological Changes
With the sight of the first snow at Redstone Pines, I feel both a sense of familiarity and of comfort. It has been quite some time since I have seen the snow on top of trees, but it brings with it memories of family-bonding and of hot chocolate and book-reading by the fire. There is also a sense of discomfort that I associated with the new snow at Redstone Pines. This comes largely from the unknown quality that I associate with great amounts of snow. I found myself pondering the stability of the pines and wondering how large quantities of snow would affect this. In this way, I began to feel a sense of uncertainty when in the pines. Overall, the snow brought a sense of wonder and amazement at the aesthetic value of the location.
Component of a Larger Place
The Redstone Pines are located in the transition zone between Redstone Campus and Athletic Campus, though it is technically part of Redstone Campus. Since it is easily accessible from Athletic Campus (where I live), there is a greater sense of comfort in the location of Redstone Pines as it a convenient location for me to return to in order to relax. Redstone Pines is part of the University of Vermont campus, again a comfort in that I have a vested interest in UVM. This can again, be extrapolated out to Vermont. I have once again, a feeling and sense of amazement when I think of Vermont, and therefore also with Redstone Pines.
Site Living Through History
The Redstone Pines was not always the way it was today. Since it is located on the University of Vermont’s campus, it was likely developed at some point and later allowed to aforest. Before it was property of UVM, it was likely part of a much larger forest, perhaps it was part of a large pine stand (like the ones located in Centennial Woods). Indigenous people, like the Abenaki, inhabited this land before white settlers came and took their land from them. If we go further back in history, the land that is not the Redstone Pines was once completely submerged. This history brings both positive and negative sense of place to the Pines. That a variety of plants are thriving in this location gives an overwhelming sense of happiness in the Pines, however thinking of the land being taken from the Abenaki makes the land feel inherently destructive in the same token.
