December

As December unfolds at the Redstone Pines, many changes to the environment are occurring. The squirrels that I have watched throughout my time observing this place have almost completely disappeared. Because they spent the fall collecting acorns, they can now settle in for the winter with the food they saved. I also noticed very few birds, because many have migrated south for the winter. The pines don’t look very different since they don’t lose their needles, but the maples have lost all of their leaves and are now just bark and branches. There is often snow on the ground covering the grass and the absence of leaves makes the area look more wide-open. December in this area has made it even more peaceful because there are no hammocks or speakers when it snows, and the snow muffles any other natural sounds which creates a super serene and calm environment. This is my favorite of any of the conditions I have observed my site in.