Today was fun. I got to sit out in Centennial and take a break from life’s constant pace and distractions. I was able to observe that much of the leaves had fallen making the spray-painted colors on the concrete wall of my site very vibrant. I noticed that the leaves of the birch trees were very orange still and that many of the smaller ferns and plants still looked colorful and healthy. I’ve been very curious about what the use of the massive concrete structure at my project was and wonder whether it has impacted the biological integrity of the landscape. It is so strange seeing the contrast between nature and man made structures, and spray paint. In class we learned about the idea of disturbance and recession. I wonder how many trees, shrubbery, and wildlife were affected by the construction of the structure on my site, and how long it has been in recession recovering from it. I also wonder if the cutting down of trees effected the stability of the landscape because there was likely a lot more water flowing right into the creek carrying sediments and increasing erosion. It was so good to be back in Centennial and to sit in my hammock and listen to the birds and I’m excited to see how the cold weather changes the environment in the coming weeks. I love the freshness of the air out in the woods and how depending on where I go near my phenology spot the lighting changes as it goes through the trees which are more and less shade tolerant. I’m really starting to feel a sense of place here because it allows me to get out of my head and just be present with nature like I would as a kid.
