Phenology -My Practice of Phenology at Priddy Woods - What is Phenology?

 My practice of Phenology at Priddy Woods

I have a practice of phenology at Priddy Woods.  At Priddy Woods I have currently 24 tree companions. I visit them every day I am at Priddy Woods.  I look into their branches and see what is happening.  I watch their leaves unfold,  the flowers bloom, the leaves change color in the fall; and I watch the leaves fall to the earth.  I am bringing awareness of the change of the seasons and how it shows up in nature and my life.  I am noticing nature's changes in the trees, the birds, the animals and myself, my family, and friends.  

I am a phenologist, I study the timing of the life cycle events in plants and animals.  However, to me, this is not just a "study", it is a practice of awareness and being grateful as well as a daily prayer that our grandchildren and their grandchildren for many generations may also witness the amazing life cycles of trees and flowers and birds and animals that share our earth with us.

What is phenology?

I quote from Natures Notebook,  

"Phenology is the study of the timing of life cycle events in plants and animals, their recurrence, and relationship to the environment. 

Phenology is nature’s calendar—when cherry trees bloom, when a robin builds its nest and when leaves turn color in the fall.

Phenology is pollinators visiting open flowers to aid in reproduction, elk making mating calls, and a tadpole turning into a frog."

Fall is in the air

 I have been out in nature the past 10 days observing the signs of fall.  I am using my senses when out in nature to be more observant and aware of my surroundings.  I feel more presence in my life when I am observing and being a part of the nature around me.

I saw the light change in the past week or two from summer light to fall light?   Have you noticed it?

I saw the change in the light.  The light is lower in the sky, getting light later in the morning and getting  dark earlier in the evening.  The light comes through the trees lower and with a richer golden color.

I saw a few leaves change, like the red maple tree picture in this post as well as the blush of the dogwood starting.  This is just the start of fall color change that usually does begin this time of year.

I saw acorns on the ground and walnuts falling out of walnut trees.

I saw fall wildflowers in full bloom with bees working the flowers for their honey.

I saw sunsets that made me tear up with joy over the blue mountains of the Appalachian range.

I heard the sound of leaves falling in the wind and the sound of falling walnuts and acorns.

I smelled, the rich balsam smell of fir trees in the forest as walked.  I smelled the earthy smell of the deep soil of the forest floor covered in moss and lichens and ferns and mushrooms and fallen trees from many years past.

I felt the cold chill of early autumn air.  And I felt the wind on my face, and the sun on my skin.  I felt the soft floor of the forest floor, softened by many years of leaves and moss.

I tasted the air as I breathed it in.  Amazing, clean, pure air.  It tasted whole and like how air is meant to taste.

I was in Greyson Highlands State Park in Virginia and Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee.  I hiked on the AT in Virginia and Tennessee.  A most beautiful fall is starting.

For those of you reading this, get outside and be present with nature observing with all of your senses. As you do, perhaps you can write down what you experienced.  

If you would like to share, please share with me or a friend or family member.  

I will make a point to write more frequently here.  I will be outside daily making my phenology observations and sharing when I can.

Look back here for more info on my phenology project and what exactly is phenology.  I will share where I record my observations and my phenology trail at Priddy Woods.  

Here is a very interesting and education link to the USA National Phenology Network.

Phenology Network

Until next time,

Becky Priddy 

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