I wanted to choose a spot that would be easy for me to walk to in any weather we might have here, and I stumbled upon Oyster Pond. I was taking a stroll and noticed a low concrete wall that was curved and only stood about 4 feet in diameter. Naturally, I walked over to it to see what it was, and I concluded that I have no idea what it was built for. It expands into a platform that goes underneath the water’s surface, providing a new habitat for moss to grow. It is on the way to Siberia from Tinker Hall, and as I looked around, I saw a myriad of tree and shrub species. Additionally, I saw different breeds of fish and insects! I thought it would be interesting to see how the ecosystem based around an unmoving water source would change as fall fell. Furthermore, I wanted to look at trees that would change throughout fall so I could see how the bird populations vary. I thought this would be a perfect location to be my sit spot, especially since it is super accessible to me and extremely peaceful. I didn’t want to choose a spot far away since I knew I would be busy and overwhelmed this semester, so Oyster Pond ended up being a wonderful spot to choose. I occasionally heard a car drive past, but overall it was very ecocentric.
I decided to take a seat underneath the canopy of a pine tree, facing a large and beautiful tree (in the picture above). On my right there was a ‘weeping tree,’ which I think is a willow tree, but I can’t be too sure. To my left stood some trees of an unknown breed whose canopies expanded over the water’s surface. It was under these trees alongside the weeping tree that the larger fish jumped out of the water the most. The ground underneath me was filled with grass, clovers, and fallen leaves and pine needles. Closer to the waterfront, various types of grass and weeds were growing about 7-8 inches taller than the rest of the grass and weeds. Some of the grass had horizontal blades shooting from the stem, which looked very cool. On the horizontal parts of the blades, I saw blue dragonflies and this tiny red insect land for a split second before returning to the air. As I was sitting, this bug about a millimeter in length landed on me. It was brown and cream striped with two antennae. I couldn’t see how many legs it had because it was so small. I also saw 3 butterflies, one small red one about 2 centimeters long, and 2 bigger ones flying too high for me to discern their color. I was surprised to see three different breeds of fish in the pond-all varying in size and color. I think there were about 12 hawks circling overhead for a solid 45 minutes of my time at the pond. Their wingtips were a lighter shade than the rest of them, and they were much too large to be crows or ravens.
Besides the occasional car zooming by, all I could hear were the sounds of nature. The cicadas were going at it the day I went-they were so constantly loud! We don’t have cicadas in California, so I love listening to their constant noise! I find it extremely soothing for some reason. To the North, I heard either ravens or crows calling to one another and I heard insects buzzing about. At one point, I saw a dragonfly’s wing hit a blade of grass and I heard the subtle sound it made. It honestly amazed me-how much we miss out on when we don’t pay attention to the nature that surrounds us. I could also hear the occasional rapid splash as the fish jumped out of water…yes, the first time it happened I got frightened and jumped. It smelled earthy, but not in a strong way-it was extremely subtle. The air felt warm, but there was a breeze coming from the North, so it felt extremely nice. I ‘forest bathe’ regularly, so keeping my thoughts not pertaining to nature at bay was easy. Forest bathing is when you take at least 3 minutes to sit and enjoy/appreciate nature, in whatever way that means for you. For me it means sitting outside (with my clothes on, just to clarify) and using my senses to become a part of nature for a little while, with no human interaction. I honestly had such a wonderful time sitting and observing the pond, living in the moment, guessing the species of the plants and animals surrounding me. I obviously didn’t know the names of most of the organisms, so I came up with silly ones so I could remember and identify them easier in the future.
I decided to watch over 2 pinecones on the floor beside me (so I could look at the rate of decomposition), the moss on a rock underneath the water surface, and the large tree across the pond. I would have chosen the fish, but they move way too much. I want to see how much the tree changes over the course of fall (I’ve never seen a tree drop its leaves or change color before). Please bear with me as I navigate how to add pictures!
I wanted to choose a spot that would be easy for me to walk to in any weather we might have here, and I stumbled upon Oyster Pond. I was taking a stroll and noticed a low concrete wall that was curved and only stood about 4 feet in diameter. Naturally, I walked over to it to see what it was, and I concluded that I have no idea what it was built for. It expands into a platform that goes underneath the water’s surface, providing a new habitat for moss to grow. It is on the way to Siberia from Tinker Hall, and as I looked around, I saw a myriad of tree and shrub species. Additionally, I saw different breeds of fish and insects! I thought it would be interesting to see how the ecosystem based around an unmoving water source would change as fall fell. Furthermore, I wanted to look at trees that would change throughout fall so I could see how the bird populations vary. I thought this would be a perfect location to be my sit spot, especially since it is super accessible to me and extremely peaceful. I didn’t want to choose a spot far away since I knew I would be busy and overwhelmed this semester, so Oyster Pond ended up being a wonderful spot to choose. I occasionally heard a car drive past, but overall it was very ecocentric.
I decided to take a seat underneath the canopy of a pine tree, facing a large and beautiful tree (in the picture above). On my right there was a ‘weeping tree,’ which I think is a willow tree, but I can’t be too sure. To my left stood some trees of an unknown breed whose canopies expanded over the water’s surface. It was under these trees alongside the weeping tree that the larger fish jumped out of the water the most. The ground underneath me was filled with grass, clovers, and fallen leaves and pine needles. Closer to the waterfront, various types of grass and weeds were growing about 7-8 inches taller than the rest of the grass and weeds. Some of the grass had horizontal blades shooting from the stem, which looked very cool. On the horizontal parts of the blades, I saw blue dragonflies and this tiny red insect land for a split second before returning to the air. As I was sitting, this bug about a millimeter in length landed on me. It was brown and cream striped with two antennae. I couldn’t see how many legs it had because it was so small. I also saw 3 butterflies, one small red one about 2 centimeters long, and 2 bigger ones flying too high for me to discern their color. I was surprised to see three different breeds of fish in the pond-all varying in size and color. I think there were about 12 hawks circling overhead for a solid 45 minutes of my time at the pond. Their wingtips were a lighter shade than the rest of them, and they were much too large to be crows or ravens.
Besides the occasional car zooming by, all I could hear were the sounds of nature. The cicadas were going at it the day I went-they were so constantly loud! We don’t have cicadas in California, so I love listening to their constant noise! I find it extremely soothing for some reason. To the North, I heard either ravens or crows calling to one another and I heard insects buzzing about. At one point, I saw a dragonfly’s wing hit a blade of grass and I heard the subtle sound it made. It honestly amazed me-how much we miss out on when we don’t pay attention to the nature that surrounds us. I could also hear the occasional rapid splash as the fish jumped out of water…yes, the first time it happened I got frightened and jumped. It smelled earthy, but not in a strong way-it was extremely subtle. The air felt warm, but there was a breeze coming from the North, so it felt extremely nice. I ‘forest bathe’ regularly, so keeping my thoughts not pertaining to nature at bay was easy. Forest bathing is when you take at least 3 minutes to sit and enjoy/appreciate nature, in whatever way that means for you. For me it means sitting outside (with my clothes on, just to clarify) and using my senses to become a part of nature for a little while, with no human interaction. I honestly had such a wonderful time sitting and observing the pond, living in the moment, guessing the species of the plants and animals surrounding me. I obviously didn’t know the names of most of the organisms, so I came up with silly ones so I could remember and identify them easier in the future.
I decided to watch over 2 pinecones on the floor beside me (so I could look at the rate of decomposition), the moss on a rock underneath the water surface, and the large tree across the pond. I would have chosen the fish, but they move way too much. I want to see how much the tree changes over the course of fall (I’ve never seen a tree drop its leaves or change color before). Please bear with me as I navigate how to add pictures!
I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, so I have always gotten to see the leaves change and then drop. It’s such an exciting and beautiful thing to watch. It is a little hard for me to imagine what it’s like to see it for the first time since I have seen it my whole life. I’m excited to learn more about your sit-spot and what your experience is watching the leaves change and fall.
That’s so cool!! I’m excited as well!
I absolutely love any type of location with water my sit spot also includes a stream, so I am excited to read more about how that type of ecosystem will change as the seasons change. Also you will probably be on of the only people I meet who enjoys the sounds of cicadas.
Me too!! I was going to choose a location with a stream, but I came across the pond, which is still-water as opposed to rushing water. I’m super excited to see how its ecosystem will differ throughout the season! I do like the sound of them! Its great white noise to be perfectly honest.
Wow, you really did choose the perfect spot! The part about the low bearing wall was really interesting to me. I wonder if the Hollins community actually built it for the purposes of having the ecosystem survive there? Also I loved how you are focusing on pinecones that are right next to your sit spot. That is a fantastic way to learn about how trees, and seeds get planted especially when fall rolls around.
PS If we could take all the cicadas from Virginia and move them to California I would in a second! They are so annoying!
They aren’t annoying to me yet!!! I am super excited for everything my spot will teach me!
Its so cool that you saw different breeds of fish. This is my first time experiencing the colors of trees changing in fall as well and I am just as excited as you are.
Yay! I’m glad I am not the only one haha! I think it is going to be so magical!