There’s nothing I love better than walking in nature while it is raining. I love to watch the squirrels shake off to get dry, and to hear the birds singing from the cover of the trees. Today was the day that I finally got to return to my phenology site, and all I can say is that spring has sprung. The green is coming back, and nothing has made me feel happier. I feel like over the past year I have become attached to my phenology spot, and I no longer need to scavenge around to find it. I remember every turn, every hill, where it gets muddy, and most importantly, where the ferns grow. The rain today made my spot smell like regrowth and the fresh smell of mud. This sensory experience was something that I haven’t experienced since the fall and it made me feel like I made a full circle from the first time I was here.
My phenology spot when i first encountered it was filled on both sides with ferns, this is what really drew me to this specific spot. Also, this path that you see between areas leads to nowhere — unless you want to look over the hill, which I always enjoy.
Physically, except for a few fallen trees that had previously been there, nothing has truly impacted my area. However, when it comes to phenological change, there are black cherry trees and baby sugar maples that are budding. Similarly, as seen to the right, there is a lot of greenery present in the understory, much of it is new. One thing that stuck out to me were the fern buds. I will put pictures below of the overstory and of a budding fern:
Culture and nature do intertwine at my spot — once the weather becomes nice everyone on campus comes outside for the sun and the rainy days are days when we rest and rejuvenate. The patterns and habits of nature are similar to those of humans, spring is always the time where everyone starts to come out of their dorms and when the greenery comes out after a long winter. This mutual feedback to changing seasons is what makes humans more interconnected to nature.
I feel like with the time I spent with my phenology spot I have become a part of it. I am definitely going to continue visiting my spot even after this year is over. I am excited to see it again in August when everything comes back into full bloom. It will only be a few months until then — but for now, I will refer to my spot as where the ferns grow.
