A UVM blog Arms Forest Phenology

Arms Forest is a small forest off of North Avenue in Burlington. I chose this location to do my phenology project because it is a small, concentrated forest which is known to have high ecological importance as an “urban wild” in Burlington. To get there from campus, go down North Prospect Street and take a left on North Street. Follow North Street to the end and take a right on North Ave. The forest entrance will be behind the church on the left side of the road.

It seems to be a younger forest based on the fact that is has a relatively dense understory. The primary species in the overstory were Northern Red Oak and White Oak, Sugar Maple, Eastern White Pine in specific areas, and some Paper Birch. There were also some scattered Eastern Hemlocks in the overstory. There were many different trees occupying the understory such as Norway Maple, Eastern Hemlock, American Beech (many of which had Beech Bark disease), and Northern White Cedar which showed up in scattered groups of very small trees. Trees like Eastern White Pines and Paper Birch really only showed up in areas right next to clearings or in places where there was more open space. The healthiest Paper Birches were next to the entrance or on the edge of a clearing. I also observed one Red Pine, several of what was most likely Bigtooth Aspen, and what I believe was some Green Ash in fewer abundance.

Works Cited

Micah Bernat (Photographer). (2020). Map of Arms Forest [Photograph].

Micah Bernat (Photographer). (2020). White Oak and Northern Red Oak [Photograph].

Micah Bernat (Photographer). (2020). Dense understory near entrance [Photograph].

Micah Bernat (Photographer). (2020). Beech bark disease [Photograph].

Micah Bernat (Photographer). (2020). Open area with Eastern White Pines [Photograph].

Micah Bernat (Photographer). (2020). Goldenrod clearing [Photograph].

Micah Bernat (Photographer). (2020). No overstory [Photograph].