Perfection.

Wow. Could I have asked for a better day? Today it is absolutely gorgeous outside- warm with a cool breeze, maximum sunshine, and not a cloud in the sky! I am in an amazing mood. After finishing an exam this morning, I walked down to the waterfront to check out my place for the final time before writing this prompt. It was even more beautiful and alive than I had anticipated.

The lake was the highest level I have ever seen. The waves were the most active I have ever seen also...

Lake Champlain lapping against the boulders by the boardwalk!

Overflowing onto the concrete by the Echo Center!

Everything was full of life around me- birds chirping, people laughing and loving life, and the trees, flowers and bushes in full bloom! It made me so incredibly happy to see that all of the flower buds on the bushes had bloomed and they were now covered in fuschia flowers. It made the whole waterfront come alive with color. Even the Serviceberry trees had flower buds on them now that will soon be beginning to bloom. These tiny white buds gave the trees an innocent, fresh look, which I loved examining closely. 

These bright bushes line the boardwalk, giving a punch of color to the already beautiful landscape.

Precious, tiny white buds! I can't help but love them.

These Serviceberry trees scream "SPRING" to me!
I can't wait until Spring progresses further and the white flowers come out in full force.

After walking up and down the boardwalk, appreciating all the life present here, including my own, I took some time to take my shoes off and walk on the soft grassy park area that is part of the waterfront. The grass felt amazing- cool to the touch and pleasant for my feet. I laid on the grass just listening to the sounds of the day. Laughing, chirping, music, waves and wind are just some of the sounds I got to enjoy. Lounging on the grass, soaking up the sunshine today was one of the most enjoyable times I have spent at my spot this semester. It was magical to simply get to enjoy my place for all that nature has to offer. While lounging, I was able to spend some time reflecting on my place as a system, which it is indeed. 

The boardwalk, although a mad-made structure, is an integral part of our human understanding of and connection to Lake Champlain. It is a reminder of the dynamic balance between humans and nature, and how that balance needs to be maintained. The flooding of the waterfront is a prime example of this. As the planet is experiencing warming, ice is melting and weather patterns are changing- the weather has been unusual and wacky this year to the least. All the excess rainfall and snowmelt of this past year have led to the immense flooding taking place all over the world and even in our own backyard of Lake Champlain this Spring season. Seeing these rising water levels and the effects they are having on the human population serve as another reminder that all of nature is a part of a delicate balance, that humans are seriously toying with as a result of their practices. This goes further to illustrate the interdependence and connectedness of all living things. 

The boardwalk is also a system in that it is subject to change as the seasons pass. Cycles of weather and temperature affect when, how and why plants grow, as well as the behavior of Lake Champlain itself. The waterfront changes physically as the seasons pass. Obviously in the summertime, plants are in full bloom and are vivid with life and color, including other animal species. In the winter, the area is more desolate and quite, as much of life is in hibernation. All parts of this environment are dependent on the cycles of nature to bring life. Moreover, because this land and space are owned by the city of Burlington, it is most likely maintained to some degree by city workers who care for the plants and structures within it. In these ways, the boardwalk is part of a natural system as well as a man-made system. 

I would absolutely, 100% consider myself to be a part of this system. My place is a location that I inhabit, not only as a Burlington resident and UVM student, but as a human being. I have a stake and play a role in the maintenance of this space. My actions have an impact on the environment and how well it is being cared for. For example, my personal choices have ecological impacts that may affect the overall health of Lake Champlain and the animal and plant species that live in the Burlington area. I feel that I am also a part of this system because of my sheer love for this place. In my immense appreciation and respect for the waterfront, I feel connected to my environment and place. In a way, I feel I am able to appreciate all that nature provides by recognizing the wonder that is Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains in my place. 

While lounging in the sunshine, I noticed that there wasn't a cloud in the sky. This added to my already fabulous and happy mood, and prompted a song to immediately start playing in my head- Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra. This song perfectly personifies my feelings toward my place today, and how ecstatic I am that Spring is finally here! Give it a listen- I'm positive it will brighten your day as well...

I really enjoyed this phenology blog assignment; it opened my eyes to the world around me and made me look deeper into myself to discover my sense of place and belonging. For the rest of my time here at UVM, and for the rest of my life, the waterfront will always be MY PLACE. 

Leaves, and Flowers, and Buds, OH MY!

Observing the leaves, buds, and flowers at my place by the Waterfront was fun despite the rain! I noticed that the bushes are now growing new plant matter, the trees new buds, moss is forming, and flowers are blooming among other signs of life! I'm thinking that since these buds seem to have sprouted overnight, before I head home for the semester, I might be able to see flowers on the tree branches!

These buds cover the Serviceberry trees in my spot!
Some of the old berries are still hanging, but these new buds are bountiful now!

LOVE these flowers and their bright fuschia color!

The lake is unbelievably high!! After visiting my place so much this semester, and having experience with it last year, it is obvious that this is a record setting rain season for Lake Champlain...

A lovely photo of the waterfront, although on a dreary day.

What a day...for poems.

This week's phenology assignment couldn't have surfaced on a more appropriate day for me personally.

I awoke in a jolly mood, despite the rain, which I happen to like a lot for some reason. But while in my first class, before visiting my place, I found out a friend I knew from home passed away this morning. He was only 19 years old. I've found myself wallowing in the reality of human mortality all day. Going to my spot helped- it gave me some time to think to myself and to reflect on the unpredictability of life. My place on the boardwalk helped me conceptualize the loss of life through the lens of nature, which was and is really beneficial. It makes you realize that all living things die- it is inevitable. And although the hard times are hard, that just makes the good times all the more special. I ended up writing a haiku about how my place made me feel today while thinking about the loss of my friend. The events of today also made me think about my life and how blessed I am. I thought about my memories with friends and family, the things I've gotten to do in my life, and the things I'll get to do in the future if I'm lucky enough.

This week's poetry assignment was really therapeutic for me, and I really enjoyed it. It let me connect with my place on a newer, and even deeper, level.

I have to ask: How can one place make a person feel so many emotions?! And recall so many memories?! It is amazing. Here are a couple haikus I wrote, plus ten words that jump to mind when I ponder my place...


Does it end?


The lake seems serene. 
Touched by rain drops, and not tears. 
Is that how he feels?

For the first time


A veil of sunshine
Warms me from the inside out
Here, in my new home. 

• Solitary
• Indelible
• Warm
• Expansive
• Connected
• Awe-Inspiring
• Bustling
• Alive
• Accesible
• Ever-Changing

Leafing through the Layers

Using the Burlington.kmz file to check out the layers of my place via Google Earth, I noted a few things:

~Firstly, the parcels option showed me how the area around my place is divided, and it is much like I expected! The property begins in the middle of the rotary area near where the pier and boardwalk starts. The Boardwalk property extends along the bike path, which I also expected, however not quite as far as the parcels image depicted. I was interested to see that the Boardwalk property also included the little sandy area at the start of the boardwalk where you can enter the lake and dip your feet! I suppose this makes sense though, considering it can be thought of as land and not necessarily part of the lake itself.

~Secondly, the contour option showed me where the land at my spot dips and shapes in different ways. The park area has land that is contoured, but the boardwalk is obviously level and flat considering it was designed and constructed. Going to my spot you can tell that the park land is a bit uneven in spots, so the contours of the land are visible in many ways, although the park area that is part of my overall place is pretty level relatively speaking. However, because I am inexperienced with the Google Earth application we used, I'm not exactly sure what the contour lines indicate, other than that they are measured in feet. I hope to learn more about this app for future reference though!

~The results of the remainder of the application options were pretty redundant. The census block data came up nonexistent for my place because it is public property and no one lives there (at least as their permanent address!). The hydrology of my place showed up as Lake Champlain, which was entirely predictable. There are no other water sources nearby. The historic map option was completely off!! The lines drawn by the historic map did not line up with the contemporary map in any way shape or form. They appeared to indicate a street was where Lake Champlain was, which I highly doubt.

Tuesday at the Boardwalk....

Visiting the boardwalk last Tuesday, April 12th was a great experience. 

It was the first day this year that individuals were out and about on the boardwalk, enjoying it as it was intended to be enjoyed. Alyssa and I experienced our spot together for the first time today. We walked up and down the boardwalk, but took extra time to sit and reflect on one of the benches at the lookout point. The sun was high in the sky, and one of the first things I noticed upon getting to my spot was that there was a rather large crew of sailboats in the lake today! It was so awesome to finally see the lake come alive in this way. There were also more people down by the waterfront today than I have seen yet this year. It was encouraging and heart warming to say the least! My event map is not the most artistic, but I tried to convey the things I saw and perceived while down at my spot...

Just Visiting

I have to say that visiting other people's spots provided an interesting frame of reference. I'm so used to going to my spot, looking at the space from my perspective, and noticing the things I value most and pick up on the easiest. So needless to say, going to other people's spots and trying to conceptualize them from their points of view was a nice lesson in cognizance.

Visiting Allyson's spot on Redstone campus was very interesting. Her spot, like mine, is in a somewhat populated area that is very much developed. Keeping this is mind, focusing on the natural and man-made components of the space kept me busy. Here I was amid the plant life, while also clearly seeing dorms and students walking around. The ground was mushy and patchy. I found a definite solace in this place even though I consider it to be somewhat in the middle of everything- campus, a community, a city, etc. I liked the balance of seeing people function in their daily lives while also feeling soft earth beneath my feet and bushes and plants around me. Reflecting on Allyson's take of her place, I feel like she must also value the sort of equilibrium that is present here.

Visiting Erica's spot at Oakledge Park was so much fun! I love the treehouse here. I almost claimed this spot as my own when contemplating a spot to choose for this project, but decided not to after considering the waterfront's implication on my life here in Burlington and at UVM. Even so, I do love Oakledge Park. I feel like the environment here is so versatile. Looking around, I almost don't know what to take in first. The ground, like everything else, is wet. But what can you do, rain is a frequent occurrence here in Burlington. I explored the tree house a bit, but tried not to stay too long because I could honestly spend my days living in that tree house if it were legal. But even the open space to run and play appealed to me. It is a shame that I came here on a rainy day, although most days this and last week have been gross weather, because I would have enjoyed the sunshine and the opportunity to explore the space at the park. Next time, I plan on visiting again on a dry day. But reflecting on Erica's attraction to this place, I feel like she must value the fact that this spot has so many places to explore and that you can easily see humans and identify with their adventure or be alone and simply be a part of your own. Those are things that I value about this place at least.

When I visited my spot down by the boardwalk, I of course appreciated the lack of snow that I saw! However, in Lake Champlain closer to the shore and boardwalk there were still large chunks of snow and ice floating in the water. Beyond the boardwalk that floats on the water, the lake was alive with movement and to my extreme happiness, no ice! The water had a lot of movement today, which I am assuming was a result of the rainfall and odd weather. The sky in general had a haze to it and kinda had me feeling in a fog (probably also because I was feeling extra contemplative today as well).

I tried to think about my place here from the perspective of Alyssa, who shares my same spot by the boardwalk. The parts of this spot I value most are it's obviously beautiful views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, the physical layout of the boardwalk, the sitting rocks that line the boardwalk, and its altogether location and setting within the Burlington city landscape. I wonder if Alyssa values these same attributes, or what exactly she finds most appealing about this place. I think about my attachment to the boardwalk and what it symbolizes for me and the life I've built at UVM. Namely, how my first memories of Burlington took place here and how so many strong memories are subsequently tied to this very location. This assignment has really helped put my relationship with the boardwalk into perspective, as well as the relationships of my peers to their places. Living well in place, indeed!!

The first weekend of school, we came to the boardwalk & Waterfront Park.
Little did I know just how great of an impact these people and this place would have on my life....

Seeing is Believing....

This week's phenology assignment was harder than I anticipated....I guess I never realized just how important my sense of sight was in my appreciation and understanding of my place.


The boardwalk is gorgeous- a feast for the eyes if you will. You have beautiful, blue Lake Champlain set to the literally breathtaking backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains, all set within the City of Burlington, which I find aesthetically appealing in itself. Sense of sight is beyond important to my perception of my place, so having to depend on my other senses for this assignment was definitely interesting.

Firstly, today is March 29th. Spring has begun and April is but just a day of two away. WHY in the world is it still snowing?! I asked myself this question as I looked out my bedroom window and nearly cried, knowing I would have to go bear the cold outdoors. With this being said, the temperature was something I clearly noted this fine morning as I walked the boardwalk. I was frigid! I guess my body just can't handle the constant fluctuation in temperature that seems to be happening daily and I was overwhelmed by the snowflakes falling overhead. The snow wasn't coming down in mass quantities, but even the little amount that was falling was too much for me.

I had a hard time tasting my place, as there isn't too much matter I would enjoy putting in my mouth down by the boardwalk. I did tilt my head back in the air to catch a snowflake or two in my mouth, but that was short lived as a result of my chilliness. As far as sounds as concerned, I heard a few bird chirps and maybe a few people down by the boardwalk, but I'm sure the weather was discouraging to most living things today.

Experiencing different textures at the boardwalk was probably one of the easier tasks of the day. Rough tree bark, wet railings at the overlook point, moist ground in the park area behind the boardwalk, and the perpetual cool, bumpy feeling the sitting rocks offer were all fun to experience. Doing this reminded me how much fun it is to touch stuff- I feel like I sometimes forget and get lost in this 'look, but don't touch mentality'. Next time I come back to my place, I'm going to make it point to touch as many things as possible!

The smells at my place were also interesting to focus on, because although I would say I have a good sense of smell, it mostly gets put to work at the times I am either smelling something very distinct, or am close in physical proximity to a person or thing. Dampness of soil was a smell I was able to pick up on, especially on the grassy park area behind the boardwalk. Also when I leaned close enough, I was able to notice the decaying elderberries from last season had a slight smell. Next time I visit, when it isn't snowing and making me crestfallen, I'm also going to focus on picking up on more smells. 

Changes, Changes Everywhere!

This week while visiting my spot down by the boardwalk I noticed many changes in the environment! It looked completely different than when I visited last- before spring break!

*Walking around, the first thing I observed was that the snow had almost completely melted in all areas surrounding my place, even though it snowed a little bit yesterday! There were just a few patches of snow left scattered around on the sides of the boardwalk and the grassy park area behind it. For the first time this season, I was able to sit and swing on the benches that overlook Lake Champlain, as well as walk freely on the overlook point that projects out further over the lake from the boardwalk. Also, you could even walk along the rocks that line the boardwalk! I was really happy to see all these signs that the snow was steadily disappearing!

*As far as Lake Champlain is concerned, the intact ice that was previously covering the lake in a solid sheet was now very much broken! The ice flow was clearly breaking down and shifting with the change of the seasons. However, I did notice that none of the ice sheets were moving presently and that the water of Lake Champlain was placid and peaceful. Looking down at the parts of the lake where water was visible, the water had minimal movement, except for a few very small wavelike motions in some areas. For some reason, the lighthouse that sits to the right of Burlington's view of the lake seemed bigger and closer to me today, I have no idea why!

*Walking on the grassy park area that sits behind the boardwalk, my feet wore heavily on the saturated soil. My footsteps squished into the grass like no other! I did not enjoy that aspect of my walk by the boardwalk for the simple fact that my shoes got a tad wet, but it definitely showed me where the snowmelt was going! Also while down at my spot, it was flurrying snow, thus making the environment as well as myself even wetter.

*While walking along the grass I couldn't help but notice that there was a lot of scat around this area. A lot of it clearly came from pet dogs that the locals bring down to the waterfront on walks, but a large portion of it seemed to be rabbit scat- there were droppings of it all over the grassy park area. In one part of the grassy area however, I found a track that was left in the remaining snow that appeared to be a deer hoof! I looked at it as close as I could get, and it had every indication of actually being a deer print. It had a horseshoe type shape, with raised snow at the heel of the print. Seeing this made me question whether or not I could possibly also be seeing deer scat, seeing as that of rabbit and deer look similar. It could be plausible that both deer and rabbit come down to this park area at night from the woody areas near the bike path. I'm definitely going to keep my eyes out for both species....

*Once I perked up my ears a little bit, I also began to notice how many birds I heard chirping down by the waterfront. There was a plethora of birdcalls to be heard, none of which I was able to easily identify. I heard a very cheery chirp though and it put my in a happy, springtime mood! I also saw birds in my area that I had not seen there before- like pigeons! I saw several pigeons, many gulls flying all over the lake and the city, and even one sparrow! I was excited to see about five birds with orange bellies and brown backs, all with orange beaks. They were flying between the trees that are planted along the waterfront, however I didn't see any nests in those trees. I thought these birds might be orioles, because those are the only birds I knew of with orange bellies. But when I got home and looked up birds with the same traits I observed, I found out that they were in fact American Robins. After more research, I found out that American Robins are known for their early arrival at the end of winter, so it made perfect sense that they are at my spot so early in the spring season! Also these birds are known for their song, which coincided with the fact that I was hearing such pleasant birdcalls!

*Lastly, I noticed tree species starting to bud! The elderberry trees that reside in my area were definitely getting new buds on their branches, although the old berries were still very present both on the ground surrounding the trees and on the branches themselves. There also also green moss coming back to life on these trees, which is something I had not noticed was there before.... Even more exciting than seeing buds on these trees was noticing flower buds coming out of the ground!! This was probably one of my favorite observations of the day! What appeared to be daffodil plants, that were previously covered completely in snow, sat in rows along the boardwalk. These plants were flattened by the snow that had sat there prior, and lots of the individual plant matter that was there was browned, but I noticed buds coming out of several plants. These buds were hard to miss, seeing as they were bright green! I cannot wait to see how fast these flowers grow and what they will look like when they bloom in full force.

I could not be more excited for spring to come at this point! There is so much more to be discovered and explored at my spot! 

"I'm a bird watcher.... my, my, my!"

This spring break I traveled to my home sweet home in New Britain, Connecticut. New Britain was my original 'place' that I cited in class as the place I feel intensely connected to. To see my map of my New Britain and the places I like to go there, see my link below....

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=213992490482446241525.00049aa1f16f0053b3c7b&z=15

When I was home, I did not notice too many birds! This is somewhat normal, because the weather is still too cold for many species to frequent my yard and the other areas I go around town during this time of March. In spring, the amount of birds in the area definitely picks up. However, while I was there I did see a few species I recognized....

---In my yard I saw American tree sparrows on several occasions. These birds are tiny, and have a sort of brown spotty coloring. My dad told me these birds are usually around during the cold months and like to sit in the many trees we have in our back and side yards.

These bird is one of my favorites because we have a ceramic sparrow tree ornament that sits on our Christmas tree and looks identical to the real bird! Seeing this bird brings me good feelings and memories of my family.

---I also noticed American crows in my backyard almost daily. They seem to really like the many trees we have in our backyard as well, and I always see them in groups- usually between 2 and 5. They make such an obnoxious cawing noise, but I appreciate them for what they are (just not in the morning hours!).  These birds are around a lot, and I've seen them in many places around town in addition to my yard.

---In the shopping centers and more towards the inner city, I see seagulls everywhere! New Britain is not particularly close to the shore by any means so I've always been puzzled by their constant presence in these areas. I think of them as scavengers, sort of like the rats of the sky. If you can't tell, I'm not the biggest fan of seagulls. None the less, they have a constant presence in these areas of my town. Although, thankfully, not in my backyard!

---Driving on the highways and while driving to my friend's houses across town, I spotted a red-tailed hawk on several occasions. I see these hawks pretty frequently when I'm home in Connecticut. It is always fun to be driving on the highway and see one of these birds, especially because it reminds me of the great thrill my little brother got when he was younger and would identify one of these birds.

---Unfortunately, I didn't see my actual favorite bird while home- the northern cardinal!

I love cardinals for their beautiful color and coifed hair do! Or feather-do rather. Seeing these birds in my yard is always a treat, because although I get to see them in my yard occasionally, I never know when one might pop up! It is one bird even my mother, the bird hater, likes to see! I was disappointed to not have seen any cardinals while I was home- and even more disappointed to learn from my mother that she has not seen any in a while. I wonder why that may be.....


I really enjoyed reading Early Spring over my vacation. It opened up my eyes to the day-to-day changes in nature resulting from global warming. I especially enjoyed the chapters on birds and butterflies! The former had prevalence in my mind as I scouted my home for bird species this break, and I will keep it in mind as I scout my place in Burlington for the bird species that frequent it.

Plant Life...

     So it turns out that identifying plant life is far harder than one might imagine! The difficulty with doing this was magnified by the location of 'my place'. The boardwalk is lined with tree species that would not inhabit this location naturally and were clearly strategically planted, yet they all seem to thrive none the less.
     Identifying tree species was also really hard within my place because none of the trees there (or very few) were contained on our identification guide! As a result, I had to do some research to find a guide to plant life on the waterfront that could help me identify these species. Like Alyssa, I used the website, http://www.branchoutburlington.org/events/treewalk/WaterfrontTreeWalk.pdf, to help me do this.

    Using just my observation skills, my guesses as to the trees planted at my site were largely incorrect! I had inferred that there were red maple tress and shagbark hickory among a few others, but unfortunately these guesses were not spot on! However, using the map and description resource from Branch Out Burlington, I was able to identify what the trees I observed actually are.

--The first tree I observed upon walking to my spot was at the corner of the train tracks and the Burlington Bike Path. This tree is of the species Norway Maple. The Norway Maple is widely planted throughout North America, and is very popular in city settings as it grows well in compacted soils.

--The next few trees on the bike path I identified as the Freeman Maple and the Serviceberry, respectively. The Freeman Maple is actually a hybrid cross between red and silver maples, so I was not too far off-base in guessing there were red maple trees in my spot. This tree is also well adapted to urban areas and is popular for its beautiful foliage in Summer and Fall months. The Serviceberry was a very interesting looking species! I was entirely uncertain as to what this species was, as it had small, whiteish colored berries at the end of its twigs, supported by multiple stems. This species does grow wild throughout Vermont, although it is definitely not native to the waterfront in particular. In early Spring this tree can be expected to sprout beautiful white flowers, which I really look forward to observing! The berries of some Serviceberry's can actually be cultivated and eaten by humans, but they are also widely popular with many insects, and animals such as rabbits.

--Closer to my actual spot, I found two other tree species. For one, I found the Chanticleer Callery Pear, which is an ornamental pear tree that is known for its sturdy form and beautiful colors and flowers, especially in Spring. This tree was actually voted Urban Tree of the Year in 2005 because it is so resistant to blight and limb breakage, which is especially important near the waterfront. The other species I observed is the Silver Linden. This tree is widely planted in urban areas as well due to its ability to withstand difficult urban conditions. This tree is pollution tolerant, and grows well in moist soil, which I'm sure the waterfront provides.

     One commonality I notice among the tree species on my site is that many thrive in urban areas! They have qualities that make them resistant to extreme weather, which could be one main reason developers chose these species to plant near Lake Champlain. Another commonality I found was that all of the species I observed have ornamental value as one of their main characteristics! They all have bright, beautiful colors and many have flowers during the warmer months. I look forward to exploring these species further as the seasons change!

My MAP- The Waterfront & Boardwalk at Lake Champlain....

My map of the Waterfront & Boardwalk at Lake Champlain....
---BIRD'S EYE VIEW---

February 14th-- The Waterfront

The Waterfront couldn't look better on a day like today!

The first thing I noticed while at the waterfront was the sky above Lake Champlain. The sky over Burlington is dark and altogether gloomy, despite the 40 degree weather, but over Lake Champlain the sky lightens and the clouds shift. It's definitely a nice change of pace from the frigid cold we have been experiencing and the partially blue sky has an uplifting effect on my mood. Seeing the dark clouds shift over the lake, away from me and towards the city, gave me a feeling of peace. Perhaps spring is finally coming!

While visiting the waterfront, I couldn't help but notice several other patterns. For one, it was apparent that the snow and ice covering the lake and boardwalk area in general is melting. The ice sheets covering Lake Champlain were cracked all over- as indicated by the picture above, which I took today around 3:30 in the afternoon. It illustrates the melting snow and ice, as well as the movement of storm clouds across the lake towards downtown Burlington. The ground around the waterfront was very wet, another indicator of melting snow and ice.

Another pattern I noticed were the many birds flying and congregating on the lake ice. There were mainly small, black birds, making shrill cawing noises. They concentrated over the lake, not really bothering to fly onto the mainland other than for a few to land on the railing of the observation deck, where I took the above picture. It appeared that there was really only one type of bird flying around the waterfront today, but I'm sure more will arrive as the weather becomes warmer.

I can't wait to visit the waterfront on our first sunny, dry, somewhat warm day of the impending spring!