According to the NR2 Midterm, a “Natural Community” is a conceptual tool used by humans as well as an interconnected group of organisms, landscape features, environmental factors, etc… Much of this definition is derived from Leopold’s land ethic and it’s expansion of conservation from species to communities.

In my analysis of my site in Centennial Woods I was initially confused, so I decided to go way, way back and do my research. I opened up my trusty Burlington Geographic website and zoomed into my site. I found that the bedrock I was dealing with was, “Quartzose metasandstone, quartzite, quartz granofels, and quartzose gneiss; calcarous”. Okay, great. We have calcium carbonate in there and the bedrock is made of rock. The surficial geology was reported as “Champlain Sea deposit(Pebbly, Marine Sand)” No surprise there, this land was once covered in water. Soil Types: “Belgrade and Eldridge soils, 3-8% Slope” Those are very deep, moderately well drained soil types. Interesting, but not yet conclusive.

Trees! Yay! I found a lot of White Ash and Boxelder, and Some White Pine( More White Pine further down the hill).

My guess: White Pine-Red Oak-Black Oak Forest. These forests are on glacial or modern out-wash, moderately to very well drained and support white pines and oaks. Even better: Wetlands, Woodlands, Wildlands specifically mentions centennial woods as one of these forests! I’m convinced now.

Let’s talk phenology. Not much has changed. It is a drier. colder day than when I visited last, and it hsn’t snowed recently. They are old and new tracks mixed. Including a cool animal path crossing the human trail. (It looks like domesticated dogs are the primary users, but some deer too!) The White Ash I identified has lots of purplish sprouts reaching up. Super excited to see how much has changed when I return from the Carolinas!