Today when I visited my phenology site, things were more energetic and brighter than last time. It was sunny and a warm 65, compared to the last time I visited, which was cloudy and windy. Everything felt more alive today, even though it is later in the season and we are nearing winter. The birds and bees were active, and the rocks were warm from the sun. More leaves covered the ground, and the leaf litter seemed to be decomposing and stomped on more by travelers.