Katie Blog 4 | 3:00-4:05 | 71 Degrees

As I walked down the hill to my sit spot, I was greeted by a warm breeze and the pleasant smell of autumn leaves. The sky was bright blue with only a hint of wispy clouds on the horizon. Blackbirds and blue jays called from the treetops, filling the air with their beautiful sounds. I crossed over the bridge to find the creek rushing underneath—crystal clear. I laid out my blanket and sat down, fully immersed in my surroundings.

My time sitting outdoors today could be described in many ways, but “quiet” is not one of them. It appears that three in the afternoon is the prime time to catch a flight into Roanoke—or head off on a new adventure. Cars revved their engines and clanged against the bridge. I couldn’t help but wonder: Has it always been so loud in this area? Could it be the time of day? Am I getting more tuned into my surroundings? Although the anthropogenic sounds took priority, the quieter, more pleasant sounds of nature began to take over; if one’s focus could be shifted. The creek babbled on endlessly—a pleasant cascade in front of me. The sound shifted slightly as leaves were carried downstream and momentarily blocked the incoming rush of water.

    Lots of leaves but relatively clear water.

In just a few days, the weeds and grasses growing along the creek have once again sprung back to life. The warm weather and heavy rain were just what they needed. Instead of splotchy, uneven growth, the grasses grew in thick clumps. Scattered in between were clusters of dandelion leaves and clover. Unnamed weeds had also made a miraculous reappearance. At this time, no flowers were present. It may be too late in the growing season or perhaps they just need more time to rebound. The fallen leaves that had fallen have continued the process of decomposition. While the original shape of the leaf holds fast, one can see the edges begin to break apart and crumble.  New growth along the creek.

The one square meter area I selected was on the ground directly behind me. I normally sit facing the creek, but I chose to turn around and face the woods. This patch initially appeared nondescript—just a few types of grasses and fallen leaves. After a few moments, I began to notice the sheer amount of diversity within this small area. There were at least two different types of grasses that I could point out; one was dark green grew in dense, upward patches while the other was straw-colored and grew outward, close to the ground. Clover grew among these grasses. Of the fallen leaves, most of them were elm leaves—3 to 4 inches in length, dark brown, and oval with serrated edges. There was a singular oak leaf in this area. The color was a light, chestnut brown and larger than the elm, perhaps 5-7 inches long. Multiple arm-like extensions form the shape of this leaf.

The 1m^2 area I selected.

Oak leaf

Elm leaf

Today was truly the epitome of a beautiful fall day. Our warm days in Virginia may soon be numbered, making today all the more special. With the intensity of school work right now, it is more important than ever to take a step back, breathe, and destress, if only for an hour. By stepping away from the computer and putting phones away, we can begin to connect more with our surroundings and hear, see, and experience unlikely things.