As we approach mid-May, I was finally able to see some flowers in bloom. The air was filled with the sound of birds chirping and plants rustling in the breeze. The trees either had buds that were broken open or fully formed into leaves. The brook at the bottom of the hill was running steadily again. The fiddleheads have begun to unfurl to become ostrich ferns. It was peaceful to look out over the meadow and see it full of green and life. After nearly a year, the meadow has almost completed the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Nature and culture are deeply intertwined in the meadow. It would be forested like the rest of the woods if it weren’t for the power lines that run through it. The vegetation that grows here only exists because of the structures that we have put in place. The retention pond also ends the natural area, while the gate prevents runoff. One cannot stand in the meadow without seeing evidence of people’s interference. When I visited yesterday, there were people taking a walk along the path with their dogs. It is an important place of recreation for many people (and pets). I consider myself a part of the meadow because I have made changes to it. I have stepped on the grass, scared the animals, and dropped sticks into the water. I have contributed to the species interactions that take place here. I also feel a deep connection to this place because I have visited it many times. There is a sense of calm and familiarity when I gaze down the hill, and I can tell that I am a part of it.
