Centennial Woods is one of UVM’s natural areas, a favorite spot for many UVM students, and now it is also the home of my phenology blog “The Diary of Centennial.” I picked this specific place in Burlington because I feel like its a close area that I have yet to get to know, even though I have been there at least once a week since I’ve come to UVM. I wanted to get to know this UVM natural area better since it was in my backyard, before I branched out to explore farther parts of the city.
Centennial Woods is a large place, so to be more specific I’ll lead you to where this blog describes. Entering the trailhead at Centennial Woods, follow the trail until you pass the boxelder that crosses over the trail. After passing underneath the branch continue until you reach a downhill slope and little patch of tall grass. If you hit a small open clearing then you have gone too far. Facing inwards of the trail, the rest of Centennial Woods will be to the East, and the UVM medical center will be to the West. The right riparian zone is much larger then the left due to the urban grounds that surround Centennial.
As fall commences, the colors are starting to poke through, and leaves are collecting on the ground. The little spot where I have chosen as the home for this blog has tons of goldenrod, and low growing plants and grasses. There are also a bunch of striped maples here. There is also a large red maple, that has multiple branches sprouting from the bottom. Other trees in the over-story that I spotted in my first trip to this spot, were a red oak and two green ashes. Though the highway buzz and jet noises escape into the tree cover, the sound of birds chirping is still prominent here. As autumn develops, the polite chirps will most likely decrease as migration starts and winter approaches.
Citations:
Grant, Samantha. “Centennial Woods Phenology Spot.” 2020. Photographs JPEG File.