A UVM blog phenology site

It has been awhile but after a couple months of resting over break I am back with one last phenology update about my spot I had chosen from the first semester.

snow has covered my spot with about 3 inches, but with rain coming our way I don’t expect the snow to all stay on the ground.

Rain has arrived and with no surprise all the snow has melted away due to warm rain, but having all the snow melted I can now see what lays beneath. Lots of mud and dead plant matter can be seen and even can be smelled. The smell is not bad but definitely gives my spot a little bit of a natural odor most likely due to all the soil fertilization from the gold course just a couple yards away. As this is my last post about this spot I would like to mention a couple last words. I have seen this spot in all the seasons now. And with no huge changes I can for sure mention that even small changes within the climate can change the smallest things in a area. most people will never notice these changes but if you take your time and observe whats around you, you just may see some things change.

Hey I am back for another phenology post and this time will be my last!

I have returned back to my original phenology spot near the golf course, and I can tell you that almost everything has changed. Sitting down on the bench that stands in the middle of the small forest, I can see clearly through all the trees as the leafs have all vanished away. Snow covers the forest ground as well as ice. You hear nothing, not even a chirp from any living things around. Having snow on the ground, you cannot see what lays beneath, but being curious I was able to clear out some snow to reveal a dirt bottom. Seeing this I can assume all the leafs either decomposed over the month or simply were blown away by the wind. Having this major contrast between my first blog and now is incredible, and makes myself think about how much impact the weather has on forest and living things around us. As my spot was once filled with life but now all you can see is death as the cold winter has arrived to UVM.

Having been assigned this project I have discovered more about how our weather works and how small areas like my spot can drastically change within a matter of time. Phenology is an important subject to learn as it will open up opportunities you did not have before. I hope to continue to use phenology in my life especially when I go on fly fishing trips around the world.

Below instead of having a google image of my spot I have taken on the challenge to draw my own map of my area.

break has approached I have been tasked to find a new temporary spot to study. Living in NJ I knew exactly where I wanted to go. That being Ken Lockwood Gorge which is a popular area for fly fishing for wild trout. The South branch Raritan river flows through the gorge providing a beautiful area to hike and fish for some wild trout.

here we have a google map image of Ken Lockwood Gorge

the river is in a valley as large mountains surround the area, giving a feeling as if you are separated from society. Lots of trees can be seen, there is not one area on the river that is clear of trees. The path you take to walk a long the river is man made to an extent. Large rocks and gravel lay below your feet making it difficult not to roll your ankle. Below you can see my view of the river while standing in the middle of it. These two areas for my phenology project are very different as the river has lots of more ecology than the golf course.

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