Throughout the different seasons, my site at Centennial Brook has had many different looks. From a lively green to vibrant fall colors to several inches of snow to new leaves breaking out from branch buds, there have been a lot of changes. Not only the plants underwent changes, but the water in the creek itself. If there was a lot of rain, it would get more turbid. During the winter months, it completely froze over allowing me to walk to the other side with ease. Also, with the amount of rain in the past few days, the surrounding area was very muddy in general, which prevented me from going all the way down the hill.
Some of the major landmarks I have gotten familiar with are the logs that lay over the brook, the eastern hemlocks to either sides of the fallen logs, and the different bridges across other parts of the brook on the way to my site. Other minor landmarks include the different bends in the brook, the yellow birch up the hill from the site, the white oak, and the area with tall grasses on the other side of of brook which can usually only be reached when a lot of the brush has died back.
Nature and culture intertwine here mostly in a recreational way. There are often people walking on the trail or going down to explore the brook, just as I often did. I also have seen some people birding or doing other assignments for classes which show this natural space’s many uses in our culture here at UVM and Burlington.
Throughout my time, I do feel like I have become a part of Centennial Brook. I have spent a lot of time there and got to know it like the back of my hand. Allowing myself take time to sit and notice things or explore things that other people may not have has also given me a different perspective and deeper appreciation for the area.
