Since my first visit at Potash Brook I noticed many changes to my phenology site. The leaves have begun their autumn processes, the fungi are starting a fall out of season, and the weather is getting more wet and cold. My time on this day was spent here observing these changes to my site.
My Phenology site resides on the North side of Potash Brook.
Walking from the University’s Central Campus you can reach my site by crossing the Main University Green to South Prospect Street to begin a 50 minute journey. Following South Prospect until you reach Fairmount St, taking a left down this road. Fairmount St eventually turns into Proctor Ave before you turn left down Meadow Rd/Eastwood Drive. Following this street under Interstate 189, the entrance to my site is to your left.
Once you have entered East Woods Natural Area the specific site is across the brook in a quiet but vibrant part of the forest.
The herbaceous species I observed on my site included the Intermediate Wood Ferns, Sensitive Fern, Canada Clearweed, Touch-Me-Nots, and a variety of mosses. The woody species varied from Eastern White Pine to Red and Sugar Maples. I found that the understory was lightly covered as the overstory disrupts much of the direct sunlight.
“Fungi are the grand recyclers of the planet and the vanguard species in habitat restoration.”
-Paul Stamets