Gabby's Phenology Site

Seasonal changes are clearly visible in Centennial Woods as we begin to veer towards winter. Recent rainfall has increased the volume of Centennial Brook, causing the stream to be faster flowing. The red and yellow leaves from the Red Maples have completely fallen and have now formed a layer around the dying ferns. My site was also less quiet, as I heard the calls of Northern Cardinals perched upon various Eastern Hemlocks. Without the visibility of the Red Maples, the dominance of Eastern Hemlocks is very apparent. It is no wonder that they have thrived for so long in this extremely shady spot! Only shade-tolerant species can survive here under the cover of the Eastern Hemlocks, which contributes to why the understory is less dense. Ferns, maples, and yellow birch survive best here. The needles from the hemlocks also increase the acidity of the soil.

Since my last visit, I have noticed more pine needles and pinecones on the ground from the Eastern Hemlocks. I have also noticed the changing foliage of the Red Maples and Yellow Birches. There is now an even cover of leaf litter on the ground, which surrounds the ferns that cover the sloping hill. The ferns are still bright green, surrounded by the yellow hues of fallen leaves. I also noticed how the bark of some Eastern White Pines was stripped from the tree. Unfortunately, I have not seen any evidence of wildlife habitat in my phenology spot so far.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?hl=en&mid=1f-ZMcP5YIUbuaHHQm5MKp5qgV7Bhg0vQ&ll=44.4794281556478%2C-73.18309543712195&z=19

I chose this spot in Centennial Woods because it was a close natural area that I felt that I could connect to. I got to this location by walking through the woods, while veering left at the fork in the beginning of the path. The vegetation includes ferns and short grasses that surround the sloped area (the ground area itself is relatively bare). The most common woody plants include Eastern Hemlocks and Eastern White Pines.