Final Words

This will be my last update for the blog. It’s been an amazing, unique experience to be present in my site’s transformation over the months. Here’s a visual of the meadow through the seasons: Centennial Woods is a great resource for the Burlington community. Offering a free natural space on the edge of a developed … Continue reading

Spring Phenology

I visited my centennial woods spot on April 26th to observe the phenological changes that the area experiences. While I did not find any wildflowers poking through the leaf litter, other signs of spring were present. I noticed trees starting to bud, a gray tree frog sleeping on a limb, and few fiddleheads emerging. I … Continue reading

Spring Break Site – Tellico River

I spent my spring break whitewater kayaking on multiple rivers in the southeast. I was fortunate enough to travel through multiple national forests and spend time out in the wilderness. My favorite river that we ran was the Tellico, located in Tennessee. This paddle was a wilderness creek run. There were several interesting rock structures, … Continue reading

Natural Communities and Seasonal Changes

Using Wetland, Woodland, Wildland as a reference, I visited my phenological site to try to identify which natural community it should be classified as. The Centennial Woods spot is most definitely a wetland natural community rather than an upland one. The site features a stream and large floodplain, as well as a forested slope. A … Continue reading

Winter Tracking and Twig Identification

I recently visited my site for the first time in about two months. A lot has changed phenologically since then, and this post will focus on the signs of deep winter I encountered. I spent some time trying to document wildlife activity, but it was difficult given the weather (recent rains melted some snow), as … Continue reading

Human History

Centennial Woods now exists as a recreational space for Burlington residents to use at their convenience. The 70-acre plot is also used for students to study natural processes and the ecology of Vermont woods. The trails are fairly well maintained and I assume that they are highly used as I rarely find myself totally alone … Continue reading

Home Phenology Site – Ashland Nature Center

For Thanksgiving, I visited my home in southeastern Pennsylvania. A few miles away is Ashland Nature Center, a preserve owned by the Delaware Nature Society. I grew up hiking the trails often, so I decided to choose it for my new phenological site to compare to my one in Burlington. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1sPt6PuK_j2-8ZTGUhoLPNH26H6LygPJJ&ll=39.80095088399425%2C-75.66225400000002&z=18 Ashland Nature Center (in … Continue reading

Map + Changes – Late October

Birds-Eye View of Site: The site is starting to show some changes with the cooling weather. I noticed lots of the herbaceous vegetation had died or was beginning the process. The deciduous trees had all either lost their leaves or their leaves were a new shade, soon to be dropped. The view of the meadow … Continue reading