On a lovely warm Saturday afternoon I headed back to my spot in Centennial. I also dragged my parents along because they were in town.
Over time, my site has changed a lot phenologically and also because of human impacts. I’ve seen how my site changed during the winter, as most of the trees lost their leaves and the ferns and other shrubs became hidden under the snow. It was cool to see these plants reemerge and to see buds on the maples and birch trees near my spot.
Additionally, I have been documenting the human caused changes in my spot. The things that interested me initially were remnants of fire pits and the sticks people were lining up along the tree circle. They progressed a bit throughout the year, but never completed the “shelter” I was imagining. In terms of storms, there are also more fallen trees and snags surrounding my spot now than there were initially.
Nature and culture intertwine in many ways in this spot. There’s evidence of human socializing (fire pits and footprints), which demonstrate that this place is a meeting ground for people. As I have spent more time in my spot, I have felt more connected to it and wondered how it has evolved in the past. While I don’t have a personal cultural connection to it, I would guess other people have in the past or currently have one now.
I think I have spent enough time connecting with this place to consider myself a part of it. It has brought me comfort and forced me to slow down even on my busiest weeks. I might not be leaving a mark on it, but I don’t think that is important. It is leaving a mark on me.
