Foliage Changes
Coming back to Red Rocks park after a week at home was a shocking experience. It has become that point in the year when all of the leaves have found their final resting place on the ground, and the trees are left bare. The rustling of the leaves is almost completely gone, mitigated to a small crunch on the pavement bestowed by a chilling zephyr in the silence. Upon a closer look of the leaves, they have just started to decompose. Most of the larger piles are still there, but the areas that are thinned out are mostly dirt at this point in the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are all gone soon!
The Animals
All the animals have taken note of the changes and made their final appearances before disappearing for the winter. I was unfortunately unable to find any evidence of animals nearby. First I looked to the mud, thinking I could find a preserved footprint, but there was nothing. Next I thought there could have been a disturbance in the leaves or bushes from digging and burrowing, but alas, there was nothing. If there had been snow on the ground, or I came a week or two earlier, I may have been able to find some traces, but I also think there’s generally not too many animals in that area anyway.
My Final Feelings
When starting my journey with Red Rocks Park, I wanted to make sure I really thought about why I was there. With the goal to feel like I wasn’t present just because I had to be, I grounded myself and really took in the world around me. Simply sitting on the tree roots and looking at the wildlife has changed my view of place no matter where I go. In nature, everywhere is a home to something. I feel as though in my journey thus far, I have gained the skill to use all my senses to put myself in the shoes of the natural world that calls that place home. I love to think about everything in the world around me, and remembering the divinity of nature makes me optimistic. I came to Red Rocks not knowing what to expect, but I can trust that in the end I left with joy.