A UVM blog Centennial Woods Phenology Blog

Welcome to UVM Blogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

My Visit to Centennial Woods’ Hemlock Grove: Phenology Blog #1

In the midst of the stress that the first month of adjusting to college brought me, my first time visiting Centennial Woods was a breath of fresh air and incredibly relaxing. I had no idea that it existed until our first lab assignment for NR 1, and I was really excited that I had such easy access to such a beautiful and diverse location not 15 minutes from my dorm. I ended up picking the woods for my phenology focus because I feel as though I have already built a positive association and relationship with the area that brings me comfort and joy, and I wanted to expand on that while continuing to explore the ecosystem. I came across a small, secluded clearing in an Eastern Hemlock grove that I set my hammock up in to observe the area.

The Eastern Hemlock trees in my focal area are very tall and grow in close succession with one another. This makes for a large canopy that covers much of the area. Since the canopy blocks much of the sunlight that would otherwise stream in, there isn’t too much vegetation in the undergrowth because of how much shade the area is in. Scattered ferns and fallen logs with moss, lichen, and mushroom patches was about the extent of the undergrowth really growing there.

Other tree species in and around the area include the occasional White Pine or Yellow Birch tree. For the most part, the grove is dominated by Eastern Hemlocks, whose fallen needles as well as the White Pine needles coat the ground. The area is located a little ways up from a stream bank, meaning that the soil was relatively moist, making for a cool, shaded habitat.

My focal location is a beautiful and relaxing spot and I am excited to continue to explore the area and study the seasonal changes throughout this year!!

-Dani