Prospect Park is a small plot of forest that is now under the custody of the Town of Shrewsbury, which is where I grew up for the better part of my childhood. The land has had a lot of interesting uses in the past, having served as both an estate for the powerful Whittall family, and as a hospital. What’s left now are a little over two miles of hiking trails and some beautiful old ruins, covered with graffiti. The ruins have been renovated recently to include a well-manicured garden full of beautiful species of plants and flowers, and serves today as a testament to loved ones who have passed on.
The surrounding forest is in good health; this much is evident even during the onset of winter. There is a clear understory and overstory. It seemed as though the majority of the trees there were hardwoods, the majority of which consisted of various oaks and maples. Although, I did come across a couple of Bigtooth Aspens! The only brushes I could identify were Mountain Laurel, since they still have their leaves, though I noticed some trees covered in a type of ivy which I could not recognize. Otherwise, there were also a fair number of Eastern White Pines, Eastern Hemlocks, and Red Pines scattered in small patches throughout the forest.
Now that winter is soon approaching, Prospect Park sits blanketed in stillness and tranquility. There isn’t much color or movement to be found, as all the plants and animals have braced themselves for December’s cold embrace. However, once spring rolls around, the park will once again bloom in an explosion of color and life, as all the plants and animals come back to the ruins.
