Written in the style of Leopold, describing Aquetong Creek:
Wandering the different streets in New Hope, Pennsylvania, my friend and I stroll down an alleyway. The store we were hoping to enter is closed. We retreat to the back of the building and find a quiet creek. Sitting on rock, I realize this would make a great phenology place. The river, relaxed and flowing slowly, has a murky brown color and is only a couple of feet deep. The plants surrounding the river consists of many shrubs and lots of milkweed, although there will be no butterflies at this time of year. The asters that were once a vibrant shade of purple, are now fading just like the trees leaves surrounding them. I notice many of the trees no longer have leaves left and the ones that do only have a couple left. Yellow; the only color left on the tree that still has its leaves. The sky, cloudy and gray, reflects off of the creek. I am able to see the reflection of the trees and other plants off of the water. My friend and I sit there for quite some time on the brisk, cold day taking in the beauty of nature. I see squirrels scurrying up the side of a lonely tree. The only downside of this new spot I found is hearing the sounds of obnoxious vehicles speeding by. After a long duration of time passes, my friend and I retreat from the creek but the memory of it will remain in my mind.
Written in the style of Wright, comparing ecology and phenology:
The milkweed sits beside the creek and the brook in both places, leaving a place for monarchs to lay eggs. The purple asters rest by the edge of the bodies of water, slowly losing their color. Aquetong Creek, unlike Centennial Brook, does not have many trees that I can recognize. The Norway Maples, Box Elders, and Red Oaks at the Brook were not present at the Creek. More wildlife was noticed at Aquetong including deer and squirrels, as well as rabbits. Centennial does not seem to have as active wildlife. At the Aquetong Creek, trees seem to be covered in tangled, green, English Ivy. In the woods at Centennial, there does not appear to be any English Ivy surrounding the trees. Instead, I’ve noticed fungi of colors brown, white, yellow, and many more. The noises of the chirping birds in Centennial are prominent making identification easier. At Aquetong Creek, you would be lucky to hear birds chirping. The overpowering sound of cars, trucks, and buses from nearby roads causes the birds calls to be drowned out. Centennial Brook, deep in the Vermont woods, surrounded by a forest of trees, runs much faster than Aquetong Creek; a creek in a small town in Pennsylvania, surrounded by minimal trees, plants, and houses.