I am back at home in Cincinnati, Ohio, and while brainstorming places that would be suitable for a phenology spot I had some trouble choosing. Cincinnati is much more urbanized than Burlington, so it is hard to find a spot as secluded as my Rock Point one. I decided to go for a little hike with my mom and dog to get some inspiration. We went to French Park, which has a lovely set of trails and a creek full of fossils. My parents actually got married at this park, and I grew up going there all the time because it is right down the street from my house. Along our hike I kept my eyes peeled for a spot that reminded me of my Rock Point spot in some way. I ended up choosing an area where there was a shelf of rock that jutted out into the creek as an overhang, somewhat similar to the way that the rocks meet the water of Lake Champlain at Rock Point, although not quite as grand.
In terms of the ecology of my Cincinnati place versus my Burlington place I found some comparisons within the vegetation present. At Rock Point there is a mix of coniferous trees like eastern hemlock and eastern white cedar, and well as some hardwoods like sugar maples and american beech. At my spot in French Park I could only see hardwoods, specifically red oak, sugar maple, and american beech. Additionally the wildlife I observed was similar in both spots, aka mostly squirrels. One major difference is the noise pollution. Even within French Park you cannot escape the sounds of cars in the distance, whereas at Rock Point I enjoy the serenity of just hearing the breeze and the water lapping at the rocks. In terms of phenology both spots seem to be experiencing their transition from autumn to winter. Just about all the trees have lost their leaves and they are now scattered about on the ground. (Yay stick season!) I found some ice formation in the creek at French Park, which I have yet to witness at Rock Point but I am sure it will come soon enough.