For a little bit of extra-credit fun, us NR002 students were tasked with visiting a local natural area for an hour over our Spring Break. Given the rapidly (and unsustainably) developing culture of Denver, CO, I chose to go visit a natural area that existed just outside of a local cemetery.
I chose the cemetery for a few reasons, the first of which being that it was absolutely gorgeous. While the air was pretty chilly (about 30 degrees), the clear skies combined with the relatively open expanse of the cemetery a really solitary experience, which I think I needed.
My second reason for visiting this natural area was that is has a rather interesting natural history:
- The Fairmount Cemetery – the official name of the cemetery – was actually founded before the certification of Colorado as a state (late 1860s).
- The cemetery then served residents of Denver, but given that I live in the suburbs (and not downtown), it would’ve served a smaller population.
- As such, there are still wide swatches of untouched land (that are owned by the cemetery) that are going to be used for future gravesites.
To see open fields in the middle of such a developing area is fascinating, but signs of their intended future use are apparent.
There was no wildlife activity at all present in my natural area. There were dogs present, but they were domestic (I saw there owners). Otherwise, I assume that most animals are either not active (due to the season or just the fact that there were people there) or that the location of my natural area in the middle of developed land was undesirable. I saw no birds or squirrels or anything, but the plant life made up for it.
Along my natural area, there is a path lined with leafless birch trees. Additionally, there was an abundance of large oaks and various coniferous trees, complete with a forested area appearing at the edge of my area. There were also a good amount of shrubs on a “hilly section” of my area right by the road. Spring hasn’t quite sprung in CO yet, so all of these plants were in their late Winter phenological stages, having no leaves. The grass was also really, really dead (pictured below), but I can’t wait to go back in the Summer and see everything when it’s green.
On my way out of my site, I saw a really cool mausoleum-type building. It’s off of my site, but likely still functioning. It’s pictured below, and I think whatever human activity occurs there likely affects my natural area to some degree. I will be sure to enquire when I get back.
A small map (not an artist – don’t judge) of my site is posted along with pictures below. Thank you so much for reading, and I will be back with an update shortly!.
