Even as I started the journey to my sit-spot, I was astounded by the overwhelming presence of nature. This was my first visit in the early hours of the morning, and unexpectedly, what seemed like hundreds of birds flew overhead, bathed in the stream, and conversed in their many different languages. I wish I had brought along my field guide to birds in order to identify the plethora of avian wildlife! Sitting in my sit-spot, I found that I could identify blue birds, finches, cardinals, robins, and jays. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm, and these birds definitely got their fair share of worms today!

 

I noticed a squirrel off in the distance, too, and he too was busy rolling around in the dirt to pay any mind to my presence. I wonder what he was doing- itching his back, or perhaps just playing. Nearby, a tall tulip poplar soared high in the air. I remember from lab that they are a species that thrives after an event that causes forest sucession. This is because they are shade-resistant, and the seeds would have trouble germinating under a forest canopy thick with leaves of other tall trees. It was the only one that I could see, which makes me wonder if it was an anomaly tulip poplar or if something happened to the others. It also makes me think that the growth around Carvin Creek wasn’t always so lush and full of life, if a tulip poplar had enough sunlight to prosper.

During my auditory tuning, I of course wasn’t surprised by the steady tweets, chirps, and caws of the birds in the area. The flit-flit-flit of the wings flying by was soothing, and the splashes of bathing birds was a welcome interruption to my sit-spot’s usual quiet melancholy. The wind in the tree canopy whistled a steady tune, and its cold breath cradled crinkling leaves until they landed near me with a soft thud. The combination of sounds transported me into another place; it almost felt foreign. I felt as though I were in a rainforest or a jungle, certainly not just the eastern United States, where I’ve spent my whole life. Really tuning into what surrounded me gave me a whole new appreciation for my home. It was like hearing your favorite childhood song for the first time in a while, with a whole new perspective.

 

I wanted to finally identify the creeping ivy that I have been observing during my sit-spot visits. According to inaturalist, it is an English Ivy. Apparently, it was sacred to the Greek God Dionysus, the nature god of fruitfulness, wine, and ecstasy (to Romans, he is Bacchus.) I found this very interesting because I am a big fan of Greek mythology, and in this context, I can definitely see the godliness and Greek feel that this plant has. The scientific name is Hedera helix and it can reach up to 80 feet! I would like to see a forest filled with English Ivy, it would seem like a fairytale, or some godly dream.

Next, I found what inaturalist and I presume to be pink knotweed. It has a wide range, and many uses in many different cultures. Additionally, many different animals eat the seeds of this plant and it has become an important part of some North American ecosystems. Bees and small ants especially like this plant because of its bright colors.

Finally, I identified a Purplestem Aster plant. The blooms can either be purple or white, it just so happens that I stumbled upon the white variety. This plant is also especially well suited to attracting wildlife, and its a hermaphrodite, sporting both male and female organs. It prefers moist soil, which makes sense seeing as it was growing near Carvin Creek.

I very much enjoyed using inaturalist, it was almost like a little treasure hunt for me as I enjoyed my sit-spot. I love wildflowers, mushrooms, and birds, and I have identification books and field guides for all of them. Inaturalist was a fun way to speed through that process while still feeling connected to the biodiversity and wildlife that I’m interested in. I would like to use this app more, at my sit-spot and beyond, wherever curiosity finds me.

 

This time around, I loved going to my sit-spot in the morning because it was a whole new experience. The birds were out, the air was crisp and cool, and I saw things I had never seen before. Relaxing in my sit-spot, I feel I have begun to grow in my ability to tune out the outside world and put all my focus into my surroundings. Now, I hear every leaf fall, every little squirrel squeak, and it’s very eye opening. I love the peace that my personal patch of Hollins provides me, and I love unfolding it’s mysteries. I can’t wait for whatever secrets it has in store for me next.