{"id":84,"date":"2022-05-11T13:47:32","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T17:47:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/dsmall\/?p=84"},"modified":"2022-05-11T13:47:32","modified_gmt":"2022-05-11T17:47:32","slug":"a-walk-in-a-favorite-natural-spot-in-my-hometown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/dsmall\/2022\/05\/11\/a-walk-in-a-favorite-natural-spot-in-my-hometown\/","title":{"rendered":"A Walk in a Favorite Natural Spot in my Hometown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I’ve found that leaving Vermont to go back down to Boston is sometimes nice because of the slight warmer weather! I live in a suburb on the outskirts of Boston, and am lucky enough to have multiple options of green area to explore to my heart’s desire. I am incredibly privileged to be able to have access to parks and natural trails, because the inner city, which is demographically less white than my suburb, has significantly less green spaces. I took a a walk through Larz Anderson Park, which is not an uncommon destination for me and my friends, as well as schoolchildren and their parents to sled, ice-skate, and picnic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One close up map and one zoomed out map of Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, MA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The park is a 60 acre wooded area that is also a National Historic Site. Views of the Boston skyline can be seen from the hill as well as beautiful sunsets\/sunrises! The land was previously known as the Weld Estate, until up about 70 years ago when Larz Anderson and his wife Isobel Weld bought the land from Isobel’s cousin. They had a mansion built there that has since been torn down. Upon Isobel’s death in 1948, she officially left the park to the Town of Brookline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anderson collected more than 40 bonsai trees while in Japan and created a collection in his estate that is now known as Larz Anderson. His wife uprooted them and donated them the Arnold Arboretum nearby, my favorite natural area in Boston. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Two of my friends standing under an American Beech <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the main trees that we encountered was American Beech. This picture was actually taken in November, so the brown leaves on the tree can still be seen. When I walked passed this tree again in March, all of its leaves had fallen, but I could still recognize the commonly occurring tree by its smooth, grey bark that I’ve always found very distinguishable from other deciduous trees. The phenological condition of the Beech trees was still coming out of winter: no leaves or signs of budding yet, only recognizable by the park. Other native trees that I saw that were common were Eastern Hemlock (shown below) and White Pine, as well as Paper Birch and common Sugar Maples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beautiful view of the setting sun seen through a patch of
Eastern Hemlock trees!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The most common birds that I saw on my walk through Larz Anderson Park were ducks and geese gliding through the pond in the natural area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My friend laying in the grass, watching the goose in the pond.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Larz Anderson is by no means closed to public, recreational access. One of the downsides of the area being so popular is that it is a hotspot for high school kids to spend their Friday and Saturday nights at. Because of this, the park is often scattered with litter, up on top of the hill and mass amounts down by the body of water. The water quality in the pond has significantly decreased since I was a little girl and would have soccer practice at the park’s athletic field. This pollution that has come to the pond must negatively impact the populations of ducks, geese, and swans that reside near and in the water. You can see the pollution gathering up in the water by the bankside, which is really unfortunate for the natural community living there. I think that there needs to be more regulation in terms of littering and signs up that advocate for respectful treatment of the natural area while taking part in recreational activities the area has to offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it was lovely to spend some time outside in my hometown, I definitely miss the stunning natural areas that Vermont has to offer, and I’m excited to spend more time in Burlington as the warmer weather approaches! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

-Dani <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve found that leaving Vermont to go back down to Boston is sometimes nice because of the slight warmer weather! I live in a suburb on the outskirts of Boston, and am lucky enough to have multiple options of green area to explore to my heart’s desire. I am incredibly privileged to be able to … <\/p>\n

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