Originally published October 16, 2023
For my phenology blog site, I have chosen Redstone Pines. This small natural area is a pivotal social spot for UVM students to relax, recharge, and connect. It is loved by many students at UVM for its convenient proximity to residence halls, beautiful tall trees, and perfect hammocking spots.
For UVM students, getting to Redstone Pines is easy. First, there is a shuttle that is constantly running to Redstone from all parts of campus. There is a user-friendly online tracker that shares real-time locations of these shuttles. On foot, the path from the Athletic Campus exit of the Davis Center tunnel will take you directly to Redstone Campus. After you pass the Catholic and Interfaith Centers on the left of the path, the Pines will emerge on the right. Across the street from the Pines is the Redstone Green, another popular natural area in its own right. While the Pines are often flooded with hammockers and slackliners, the Green is more popular for sports such as frisbee and hackysack.
Redstone Pines is, of course, dominated by eastern white pine. In addition, there is a sampling of red oak, sugar maple, and basswood. The vegetation here is old; the trees tower over all of the surrounding buildings. As you move deeper into the Pines, there are rock formations further away from the road. Gray squirrels and various birds are very common sightings here.
