My experience at the brook in Centennial Woods thus far has been one that I have learned a lot from. At first, I saw this brook and thought it was a beautiful place that hikers passed by. However, the appreciation that I have for this place has about remained the same, or grown over time. Other than coming to this location for my blog, I have come to this spot several times over weekends with my friends to just sit. As phenological changes have occurred in the area, I have been able to witness these and it has made me feel more connected to this place. Although the brook will undergo changes from summer, to fall, and to winter each year, it is still the same place despite different aspects being highlighted each season. For example, during the warmer weeks I came to this spot, the plants surrounding the brook and the noises the brook made were highlighted. During the autumnal weeks I visited this spot, the amount of water in the ground and the brook was the most abundant factor in my opinion. And during the winter, this week I have noticed that parts of the brook were covered with ice but still flowing underneath the ice sheet. It was interesting to see all plants covered by snow, and the only noise present was from the babbling of the brook due to the lack of plants and leaves making rustling sounds in the wind. It was also interesting to see how humans have altered the area, through the moving of bridges around the brook for people to be able to cross. At a larger spatial scale, my experience of the brook fits into my sense of place of Burlington through knowing by heart how to get to a natural area which is important for me to know. I think that despite the time of year and how the brook is altered by this, I have a strong connection to this spot due to being able to witness these changes with my own eyes, and I am excited to see how this site is altered when winter actually begins.
