By now, most of the deciduous trees have dropped all of their leaves. Since my place is dominated by mature white pines, the ground is relatively clear of leaf litter, except for some yellow birches and beeches in the understory. The ferns really pop out this time of year since they’re the only green thing on the forest floor. I’m always surprised how clear the water in centennial brook is. I didn’t see any animals except for some squirrels in the oak stand and a couple small fish in the brook.
Most of the trees in my spot retained their leaves. The pines, ferns, and hemlocks are practically the same as when I first came in September. Even though the hardwood stands have a really sunny understory this time of year, the canopy in my place is still doesn’t let much light through and the surface is relatively bare.