March
I chose to look at an American Beech, fagus grandifolia. I know it was a beech because of the long, conical shape, staggered layers, and lighter color of the bud.
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March 27th
There are no changes so far in the tree. The leaf buds are maybe a little bit bigger than last time, but other than that, no change.
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April 10
The area around the tree has changed dramatically. All of the ice has melted, much of the mud has dried up, and there is more bird activity- spring is sprung! I wore shorts and a t-shirt today as well. The tree itself, however, had not seen much change. There are no leaves yet, and the buds are still closed up.
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April 24
This little spot has gone from snowy and barren to earthy, muddy, and full of life in the span of a few weeks. I walked into the area yesterday to find a few larger fallen trees and my heart skipped a beat- I’ve grown quite attached to that area and to that tree. The last couple of times I visited this spot, the tree showed no signs of budding, but this time, a few leaves had started to unfurl from their buds. I was very pleasantly surprised at this new life, and the raindrops clinging to the leaves made for a lovely image. The tree itself has become a sort of landmark- just after I crest the hill, it’s right there. There’s also a fallen tree that sits directly up against another tree- I often sit there to draw.
Nature and culture have an interesting relationship here. The whole area is overrun with signs of human interference- bridges, worn pathways, bird feeders, and trash all make their presence known, but there’s also promising signs that nature is being left to do its own thing.
I consider myself a part of this place as much as I consider myself a part of anywhere in Vermont. I was born and raised here, so this state (even though it’s just lines on a map) feels like my own, in a sense, even though my ancestors are not from here and my family line is very new to the Americas.