Since I have started this blog, there have been many changes in this place. These changes themselves have been mostly physical, but I believe that they have led to important changes in the overall character of this place. As the seasons have changed, I feel as though my relationship with this place has changed as well. When I first started this blog, I saw this place as much more active and dynamic. There were always people and wildlife running around, making the place seem much more hospitable, in a way. Now, as the weather has changed dramatically, this place feels much more static. Though I know there are still lots of important processes and changes occurring at this place, the overall decrease in activity since I started this blog has definitely changed my relationship with this place in a somewhat negative way.
I think this place has allowed me to become more familiar with the UVM campus and New England as a whole. Growing up in the Mid-Atlantic, I was extremely unfamiliar with the New England area before coming to UVM. Though I obviously still have lots to learn, I feel like this place has definitely given me the opportunity to become more familiar with the area, and has helped me form my own sense of place while adjusting to college life in a completely new area.
For me personally, I do not think that the history of my place has a huge impact on my sense of place. Since I am not familiar with the exact history of how my place came to be how it is today, this history has relatively little impact on how I perceive and interact with this place. However, I do believe that if I were to learn more about the history of my place- such as how it was used before it became part of UVM, and how UVM acquired it- I would gain a deeper understanding of my place as a whole, which would most likely improve my relationship with this place.
11/10
1:10 pm, cloudy, ~45ºF
Naturally Curious
Oct
- eastern white pines losing leaves
- eastern chipmunks calling/collecting food
Nov
- beech and oaks keep leaves
Notes:
- didn’t look like any of the pines were about to drop leaves – didn’t notice any tan/brown bunches
- chipmunks calling + foraging in Oct but not anymore – too late in season now?
- didn’t see any beeches or oaks in area, no other trees keeping tan/brown leaves
- more deciduous leaves on ground
- berries dropped in bunches
- several gray squirrels digging through leaves
- shrubs still have green leaves
- Norway maples staring to lose more leaves
- no signs of birds or chipmunks
- no people in area
