The place that I chose for this phenology blog is a brook in Centennial Woods. The way to get to this place is through the entrance of Centennial Woods where a bike rack is present. From here, I follow a path through the woods for about 5 minutes. On the way to this location I encounter a clearing of pines where one path diverges, where you must take the path on the left. From here, you will walk across small bridges of wood until the brook is present underneath. This is an open and inviting place with a multitude of plants, including shade tolerant species. There are many rocks in the brook that appear to be shale, as well a ledge from the land that is about half a foot down to the water. In the brook there are numerous minnows swimming around, but not much aquatic life other than these creatures. There is a small section of grass in the middle of this brook that is in jumping distance This is my favorite place to sit near the brook. When I hear the babbling of the brook even before I see the water, I know that I am in the right place. The sunlight shines through tall plants next to the brook, reflecting into the water. There is moderate foot traffic in this location, so it is a lovely place to simply sit and enjoy the surroundings. Recently I have enjoyed bringing my sketchbook to this location because it sparks inspiration for me. I have also brought several of my friends to this special place and they share the enjoyment with me. There is a small teepee made out of sticks just above the left side of the brook that I want to venture into the next time I am here. There is also an area of the brook where woody plants on either side of it converge to create a slightly enclosed tunnel which I think is really cool. There is a picture of this area in this post. Overall, the brook in Centennial Woods is a peaceful spot to enjoy the water and surrounding nature.
Notes from Centennial Woods in Lab Notebook:
- Old vile (possibly for pH experiments) found on the land near the brook left behind as litter
- Foam surrounding few rocks in the brook
- 1/2 food ledge from land to brook
- Grasses present
- Brook is shallow, 4-5 inches deep