Sarah Barnett

Blog #5

11-22-19

Weather: cloudy, raining, 50º F

Start time: 10:27 am

End time: 11:15 am

 

Journaling in the rain was a new experience for me. The rain was beautiful in my sit spot as it bounced off the trees and pattered on the fallen leaves. After sitting down and just soaking in my spot for a few moments I looked down at the soaked fall leaves. They weren’t crunchy under my feet like last time. I could barely see the shreds of grass poking through because the leaves were so abundant on the ground. They covered the grass like a beautifully colored quilt. I looked at the mighty trees in from of me. They were still strong and thick but barer. Their nakedness made the other side of the stream that runs through my spot more visible. The stream was empty with a few puddles growing from the rain. There wasn’t as much wildlife as my last blog possibly because the rain. However, I did hear a few blue jays and some crows. Sadly, my squirrel friends were not fond of my sit spot in the rain and didn’t join me this time. It was so good to be back in my spot and hearing the rain made it so peaceful.

I walked over to my baby bamboo stalk who was still thriving. Its stalk was still the same height, but its branches were full and longer than before. The bamboo’s leaves still had white spots on them but weren’t as prevalent. Despite the changing weather it is still green and growing. Next, I visited my blood splattered tree sprout. In my last visit the tree sprout was still holding on to a few leaf pieces but now they are all gone, and the tree is left completely bare. Lastly, as I traveled back to my seat, I looked above at the mighty tree canopy. This too was different from my last visit. I as now able to each individual naked branch and trace what branches belong to each tree. The tree branches look almost like a hand covering my spot as if to say even though the leaf canopy was almost gone, the branches were still covering and “protecting” my sit spot.

I was looking forward to the auditory tuning in because I knew I would get to hear and focus on the rain, but I didn’t realize how much of a challenge it would be with my eyes open. For the first five minutes of listening I found myself having to stare at the ground or a tree trunk in order to focus on the audio of my spot. It was really difficult to just focus on the sounds because every time I heard a sound I would look and try and find it with my eyes and see something else and get distracted. I heard the rain hitting the leaves on the ground and a few blue jay calls. I noticed that I could hear the traffic in the distance on the highway that normally I wouldn’t hear. I guess because of the rain limiting the wildlife activity and making my spot quieter I was able to pick up on this.

After my difficulty focusing with my eyes open, I was relieved to spend the next five minutes with my eyes shut. After shutting my eyes, the rain sounded heavier on the grounded leaves and I could hear raindrops hitting the tree leaves and bouncing off. I heard a branch move and what sounded like leaves falling. I’m not sure what caused it, maybe a bird or squirrel? I could still hear the roar of cars on the highway and a loud engine in the parking lot behind me that made sure its presence was known while zooming off. I also heard a few crows caw here and there.

Lastly, in my time at my spot I focused on a small area to my left (north). It is inhabited by bamboo stalks and is the home to my baby bamboo stalk that I’ve been observing. The stalks are backed by brush and other tree species. The bamboo sits next to some tree and leaf debris that crosses the ground in front of it. Fallen leaves from other trees of all different shades of red, brown, and orange blanket the ground surrounding the bamboo stalks. The rain falls and shakes the long, green, slender leaves as it hits and runs down them. There is a large contrast between the prickly, thorny brush and the refreshing green bamboo. It continues to stretch tall even though it is in an area with so many dry and dying trees. The breeze blows its breath through the leaves and sways the branches back and forth for a moment. I wonder what organisms live off these bamboo stalks? They must produce good nutrients to be able to survive and thrive in the winter.

I always feel appreciative of my sit spot after leaving because I know this is a home and resource to many organisms. As it was time to leave my spot once more, I walked along the tree warriors that stand in front of the stream and gazed up at the hand of protection their branches provide. I looked at the bamboo and leaves and at the stream that I’m sure is a home for many organisms when full. As I was looking at all these things one last time before I left, it made me feel so minuscule in comparison to all the contributors and workers in our ecosystem.