Final visit to the Winooski River!
Since my last visit, even the Norway maples in the distance have lost their leaves, leaving only sticks throughout the surrounding forest. Some grasses speckle the forest floor.
I did not notice much animal activity, but not necessarily any less than before. All the tracks I saw in the sand belonged to sneakers and boots. A squirrel and a few birds have stuck around. The leaves have lost their color and have begun to curl up and decompose, exposing the sandy soil.
I really enjoyed doing this project and connecting to one place for an entire semester. It honestly made me sad to see this place lose its life, but I can appreciate the cyclical nature of the seasons and remind myself that the leaves will be back in just a few months. Winter is the time for everyone to hunker down, including plants and animals. My year has been somewhat tumultuous, so having one constancy during this first semester was comforting. I saw myself developing and changing alongside this place, with my fall being full of disruption and this coming winter bringing some restfulness back into my life.