Change

Yikes! It's probably due time that I posted my last Phenology blog post. It's interesting how so much changes over the course of a year, especially if you are student. There is no explanation to the crazy amounts of drama, homework, and of course fashion statements that are forever involved with going to high school. Senior High is no exception to this of course and I have gone through my fair share of questionable attire.

However, there is something about Senior High that makes it unique in it's own way. Connected to it's walkways is a little place called Pioneer Park. There is something stable about knowing the presence of the outdoors not to far from the cramped, noisy hallways. It doesn't graduate or decide to change it's whole outfit. It's a part of our school and it was so nice this year to actually get involved with what's really there. Phenology was a great way not only get outside but it brought our learning to a testing ground. It was remarkable to see the vast changes that my area went through from the fall, (including having a muskrat move in!), but it has been reassuring to see it go back to green fluffy grass and an overflowing creek.

Overall, change doesn't have to be a bad thing. It's kinda scary to go through so much in such short four years, and that can be a bit overwhelming at times. Having a place where students can breathe fresh air and just learn about the outdoors was just the right tool to help bare the craziness of high school.

Bye, Phenology!

I can't believe the year is already over! Wow, the days must have ran past me. I am so glad I was able to take Environmental Science class this year and experience Phenology with all of my classmates. Before this year, I had never heard of Phenology. Even though, I had appreciation for the earth around me, I rarely took the time out of my day to spend such quality time with nature. Now, I'm able to look back over my journal and reflect on the beautiful moments I had spent outside during 3rd period. Hopefully in the days that lie ahead of me (whether I'm writing about it or not) I will still be able to spend that one-on-one time with nature. Recording Phenology made me realize how important it is for any individual to take the time to slow down and observe the environment. This world is a very fascinating place!

The End of Phenology... or is it??

This year has been great with Phenology. I've loved it so much. Watching/hearing animal activity, seeing things I've never really had an eye out for, and being able to go outside in a class that's not gym for a change. I have to say I'll miss being able to go outside and be able to do Phenology.
I never even found out how old the tree stump by my tree was. Or what a blue spot was I had found on my tree. Oh well, I guess there's some things you may never know. I wish I could have been able to do this more. The one part I hated though was seeing a bunch of litter on the ground for about a few weeks. Might not have been the same litter each time I went out but it was still litter!
Who knows. Maybe It's not the end of Phenology. Maybe we could still follow this blog and go do some Phenology of our own. Maybe even Mrs. Lord will have her class next year do this. Either way I still had fun doing this!!

Last Post

         On May 16th of 2012 the Environmental Science class went for their last phenology data collection day. I had some mixed feelings about this, because I really enjoyed doing phenology, but I knew that school is almost over, so I don't have to worry about that. The temperature was twenty six degrees Celsius for the air, and sixteen for the creek. The sunrise that day was 5:42 A.M. and the sunset was 8:40 P.M. The water depth was eighteen centimeters, which was quite a bit more than the previous data entry of twelve centimeters on May 7th. The water in the creek was kind of cloudy and fairly rapid in its flow. The creek also was wider because some twigs and leaves blocked the creek.
       There were lots and lots of dandelions, which didn't look at all like dandy lions. They were all over the ground everywhere. The grass was also very green in color and thick, but that's because they water the grass in Pioneer Park. The broad leaf plantains and clovers were very plentiful too.  I heard three separate birds.
       Over the entire time we did phenology the change was astonishing. At first it was warm, the leaves in the trees were very full, and the grass was fairly green. Then, during the fall the leaves changed and fell down, and then winter happened. Also, the amount of sounds for the sound tapestries went down for me during the winter, but then went back up in the spring, which I thought was pretty cool.  It's also really interesting because of how much of a change there is in sunrise and sunset. I knew that it changed, but it really seems to be such a larger change when you actually look at lengths of days in the winter compared to the spring. I really enjoyed phenology and hope that other people got out of it what I did.

Final Post

Throughout this year in phenology I have learned a lot. I spent a lot of time in my phenology site and pretty much mastered it. I now understand that the big metal grate dams up during the fall and winter months due to the leaves blocking the water flow. More importantly I figured out the mystery of the weeping tree, which is wet wood, and that was what I set out to do at the beginning of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed doing phenology and recommend any future environmental science class takers take it serious because you will get a lot out of it. Anyways I left the site in tip top shape with all the leaves on the trees and the grass green as ever.


                          So Long, Cree Minkoff 

Last Phenology Post

   It has been a pleasure to note the changes of my phenology site. Just to witness the changing of the seasons and its effects was worthwhile enough but to have an understanding of the changes themselves has really made the environment something tangible for me. I cannot say that I will change like the running creek or turn over like my four-trunk behemoth but I can say that I am more conscious of my surroundings. I pick up pop cans now. And I throw them away. My site was a spot in which I could escape away from the toils of school and the redundancy of my classmates and just think for a minute. I could doodle away pages as the grass beneath me shone brilliant emerald to dull yellow to the fresh green of rebirth. I sat through a storm of cotton as the seedlings of all the dandelions blew on past me in the wind. Bits of snow clung to my boots as I shook my pen to get the ink to move. I have a lot to think about what with graduation upon me and nothing else in miles so it is comforting to know that at any time I can carve out my own little piece of the environment and just watch it for awhile.

Farewell, Phenology

A gloomy day for a solemn occasion. Today, I spent some time at Pioneer to conduct my final phenology session. I’ve really grown fond of my little spot: the ever-changing fungi, the magical ledge of over-hanging tree roots, the little tree learning the methods of its elders. Nature planned some pleasant wonders for me, which I will take as a heart-felt good-bye!

There were growths of fungus on both stumps, specimens I had never seen before. The common “burnt-orange bubble” fungus also had new developments. On the first stump, there were mushrooms that I have officially named “cream and dark brown umbrellas.” They resemble more your “typical” mushroom. The south side of the second stump had the other new variety:  something I call “very dark orange umbrellas.”

I saw a lonely male mallard attempt to interact with a happy duck couple, but they left him in the dust. I wish we could have seen baby ducklings during our phenology experiences!

Phenology has helped me create a personal experience with the natural world, even if that natural world is simply a city park. We too often forget to enjoy the simple beauty of the world around us. Thanks, phenology, for rekindling my appreciation for all things wonderfully ordinary, from mushrooms to a tree’s first buds of spring!

The tree in my site.

The lonely male mallard, attempting and failing relationships with others.

"Very dark orange umbrella" fungus

A particular very dark orange umbrella that was flattened out.

"cream and dark brown umbrella" fungus

last phenology blog ever! Yay we are almost done with high school forever. Last time we did phenology it was quite clear that the weather has switched more on the side of summer then spring or winter. The world of nature is full of life and movement. Can't wait to be able to spend my entire day outside, school is great for learning about nature and I have learned a lot about the environment but to actually be able to spend the entire day outside would be great. I really liked this last section, food, because we all eat food so it is relevant to all of us. I learned quite a lot about food this section how important eating local, environmentally friendly, and organically. This really has changed how I look at food these days with a new light. It is very important that we all help our community by eating locally.

So long, Farewell

Today was our final day to be outside for phenology. Although this is a somewhat sad day, it also is a day to look back and reflect on all that we have learned through our phenological studies over the coarse of the year.
     For those of us who have been here for the whole year we have seen Pioneer Park in almost every season. from the fall to the spring. This excites me because when I think back on what we have observed i see that really although the park is constantly physically changing, its core and main attributes are never wavering. During almost all the seasons of the year children and people were found in the park enjoying all that it had to offer, and the creek and the hills were always in sight no matter what the season was.
     Something that I also was thinking about is the creek itself. never before had I realized how much it fluctuates in depth and the speed of its flow. It is truly amazing how the aspects of the weather play considerable parts in the establishment of the parks ecosystem.
     The growth of the plants of the parks through the seasons is also something that has taken my fancy. Never before had I so closely observed the development of the leaves to their dormancy state in the fall, nor to the establishment of their regrowth state during the spring. Even today as I was walking to my phenology site I could see plooms of pollen filling the air, and the Dandylions had gone to their seeding state.

Good Bye Tree

Over the course of this year I have seen my tree go through all four seasons . I have seen my tree bare, full, and I have seen my tree gray and green. It was an amazing opportunity to get in touch with nature and just observe the things living around me. I have a new and forever long appreciation for nature. I respect the things growing around me and have an all new awareness of all creatures. Now that we are in spring my tree has blossomed with leaves; bright green leaves. There are dandelions everywhere too!The stream is filled with water and ducks to drink it. The grass is thick and green. The sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. It's amazing how much bird activity has increased as it got warmer. From a non-environmental science student it might have looked as though I was taking a snooze out there, but I was really taking in all of the nature around me. The hot sun on my skin, the wind running across my arms, and the birds chirping away were all the peaceful attributes to this class that I will miss. For future students I recommend this class for many reasons. After taking this course I feel I have taken on an entirely new awareness about everything from what I put into my body to what is in my water and how this American society plays a huge role in all of that. Ms.Lord has taught me to simply take advantage of living in Montana; where our community has a larger opportunity to succeed in many aspects if we want it to. I am so inspired and am very excited for my future as I am more curious about the decisions that I make that affects me and the environment around me. Thank you senior high for offering this class. 

(:

I really like that environmental science is the only class that allows you to get out of a desk and go outside. Doing phenology was really fun, especially during the spring when it was nice outside. I will admit that i slightly abused the privledge and i apologize for that(Mrs. Lord). I have never really taken the time to stop and appreciate nature and our environment until we went out for phenology. The last time i checked my spot there was fresh grass around the whole bank of the creek. The trees were fully budded and the water level was 4 inches higher than the last time.

Nothing Special

In my phenology spot I don't have anything special; no weeping tree, no hole, no chain smoking middle school kids. But, I have come to enjoy my spot, and to notice all the little things in my area. It is a very depressing thing to think about having to leave this place. In recent phenology trips I realized that the school year is coming to an end, and so is phenology. On my last post I have not noticed anything significantly different. The only difference that I noticed was the length of the grass and the sunrise/sunset times. Considering this is my last post I might as well say good-bye!

Phenology, it's been real.

I am basically in denial that the year has flown by without my recognition. I honestly have no idea where do begin with this last post. 

Phenology has been an incredible experience. I started with such a closed mind, assuming that this was too "granola" for me. I was sure that there would be nothing spectacular about looking at grass and bark for almost a whole year. In my mind, certainly nothing would happen and I would be stuck writing the same things over and over. Yet, even with the transition into autumn I had come to realize that I had been living all this time oblivious to all that surrounded me. It is as if this fast pace society we live in had brainwashed me. Looking back on this, HOW COULD I NOT NOTICE SUCH SIGNIFICANT CHANGES! 

I had learned to take advantage of this time to also gather my thoughts and just relax. I am a very anxious person, everything makes me nervous. During a typical phenology day, I would find the time enjoyable and therapeutic. Slowing down and just allow your existence to be is genuinely an experience the modern day teenager may never fully get .

Since my mind has been trained to focus on details in nature I have recently been able to focus on detail much more easily than before. I plan to take time every now and then to venture out alone and just focus on nature and appreciate it for what it is.  

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

It's crazy to think that today, May 16, was our last official phenology outing. Outside the temperature was soaring to mid-80 degree weather and everything surrounding me was green. Cotton danced around me, a sure sign that summer is almost here. It's funny; my first day of phenology couldn't have been more opposite. My first phenology notes were from February 1st. There were snow piles on the ground, the creek was slow moving, the temperature was about 45 degrees, and there were really no signs of animals or insects due to the organisms' responses to the SCREW factor in winter. So much changes throughout a few months. Within this short time my willow went from budding to growing leaves up to 12 centimeters long. The land around my site was brown and dull, sometimes covered with snow. Now it is moist and green; tall grass around the creek and dandelions fill my site. The creek has recently been flowing much more rapidly. Unlike February, ducks, squirrels, bees, and birds encompass the world around me as I take it all in at Pioneer Park. Phenology means to study the seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant/animal life. This is exactly what we did in our environmental science class, 2012. I will surely miss the nice escapes out of the building, practicing our naturalist skills. Phenology really has been a fun experience for me, and I plan to take what I have learned and use it throughout my life.

Summer Begins

     Well it is just the middle of May and it is not quite summer yet, although we have had a lot of summer days this spring.  Days have been very warm and for the past three days it has been really hot outside.  So yesterday I went out for phenology and it was phenomenal outside. The sky was clear and the sun was out as I can feel the nice breeze.  Yesterday morning was not terribly warm outside nor cold but it was just perfect temperature.  The air temp was 26 degrees Celsius and the water temperature was 16 degrees Celsius.  The water depth was at 16 cm. deep.  The water level has increased, I guess that we did get alot of rain that the water level of the creek has risen from 5cm. to last time phenology was 12 cm. and now it is 16 cm.   I also notice that there were alot of dandelions growing around by the crick.  Everything looks so green outside.  I really enjoyed the scenery of the park from the sound of the creek flowing, the song of the birds, and the ducks quaking.   Everything works as a part this is what Pioneer Park is an Ecosystem, all the biotic and abiotic factors depend on each other.   This is what I call the summer mornings.  The sunrise was at five forty two and sunset was at eight forty.  This is the last recording for phenology. 

Phenology Is Over??

Today was sadly my last day at my phenology site in Pioneer Park.  I will surely miss the tall green grass and large shading trees.  This has taught me so much about the environment we live in.  It is a very lush green place in the spring and summer but when fall and winter roll around it becomes barren.  It's great to see all the wildlife as well.  The birds are quite active and so are the ducks.  I have enjoyed them visiting my phenology site.  I have also enjoyed the bugs and flowers/weeds.  The trees have been my favorite  throughout the four seasons.  They bloom in the spring and live through the summer and start to die off in fall for the winter then there cycle starts all over again!  It's truly amazing how nature can fend for itself no matter what season it is.  I'm so glad I had to opportunity to be apart of this blog and explore pioneer park.  I will miss it all.

Holy Toledo!

I really felt like I time traveled today during phenology. Can this possibly be May?! Judging by the weather, abundance of blooms, and near 90 degree temperature, my inner calendar thought it to be a mid-summer day.

Today, the stream was extra flowing; resembling more a raging river than the cute little trickle I have become accustomed to. I found this rather curious, due to the fact that we have been lacking in the moisture department. However, there was a new dam-type structure, presumably built by a human, which could have greatly affected the stream’s flow.

The humble little tree in my site finally caught up with all of its larger acquaintances and is now fully leafed out! I’m not sure of the species; but I am aware that it is neither a cotton nor a willow tree.

Speaking of cotton trees…. They’re creating a strange phenomenon throughout the park! A blizzard in May! It’s quite magical to observe all the little seeds of opportunity floating around you, searching for a final destination. Maybe not quite as magical if the wind picks up and turns the pleasantry into a fluffy tornado. The massive presence of dandelions can easily be explained, for the millions of plants in “puffball” stage send out their version of offspring with gentlest whisper of a breeze.

I know today was supposed to be our final phenology excursion, but I plan to return to my site soon to conduct a make-up session! Then no one will see me loose composure in saying farewell to my beloved phenology site ;)

Green Day

      Today was a bright and sunny day just alittle chilly outside.  This morning we went outside for phenology.  It was such a beautiful day as I wake up to the warm sun, the sound of the crick flowing and the birds singing.  It is so green outside we have had some rain since the last phenology.  Last time we were out for phenology it was really warm outside and since then we have had alot of moisture.  Since we had alot of rain the water level has risen and its about 12 cm deep. I see green leaves on the  trees.  The grass is really green now that I spot dandilions growing on the grass by the creek.  As i see the bumble bees pollunating them.  I also see two ducks by the pond floating around in the pond.

The Mystery Solved!

     I have recently done some research with Ms. Lord on the mystery of the weeping tree. A lady by the name of Brenda Dahlfors gave an answer on a website called Ask Extension. She called the condition of a weeping tree, Wetwood. This condition is caused by a type of bacteria entering wounds in a tree. This condition often occurs in trees such as elms, poplars, cottonwoods, oaks, and maples. The condition itself does not greatly alter the strength or health of the tree. Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas are the types of bacteria often associated with wetwood. There are no effective ways to mange wetwood, but like I said before it doesn't greatly alter the tree's strength or health. After doing this research on the weeping tree it is nice to finally understand what exactly is going on, and that there is not something seriously wrong with the weeping tree. Thanks to Ms. Lord for her help on finding an answer!

Litterbug Season

For the past few times I've gone to my site it's been nice. My tree is is doing really well and so was my site---
Wait ..... As I neared my site a few weeks ago I saw it .... All around the creek and my site...!!! It was garbage!!! There had just been trash all around!!! There was a pile of trash not far from my tree and on the other side of the creek was more litter that seemed like socks. Strangely enough the next time I went to my site the dirty old socks were still there. I was not sure if they were the same ones.
Litterbug season .... jeez..... people need to learn to pick up their trash and help this planet.

Chain Smoking

I like to imagine my site as a hideaway spot for underage tobacco users. A rowdy crowd of middle-school wannabe dropouts sucking back Parliament Lites that cost them all of their allowances and then some. I like to imagine that because that makes some sense of the stuck red bubble gum piece that has been eroding on one trunk of my four-trunk behemoth. That puts sense to that little knot at the base of my behemoth that has hidden inside broken mechanical pencil bits and a worn scrap of a note that simply says, "Sara has a nice--." These nasty, odorous grease-balls probably have imaginary sword fights when the girls have all gone home because splinters of stripped tree limbs litter my site after most weekends. I must look odd to them; they spying from behind that green maintenance shack while cutting class. I, lanky in limbs and haggard in countenance, can barely fit in that little nook two of the four-trunks create. I must seem completely alien, stepping none to softly in my red canvas All Stars measuring creek depth and picking at leaves as though I know not what they are. I can set my jaw tight and make it appear as though I know anything but if only they could meet my wild roving eyes and see that I am just as clueless as they are. I envy them. They puff puff pass that smoke and cough through the fog and they truly do not know that it is harmful. Repercussions are when your buddy makes a mistake on the drum set during band practice and it sounds really cool but he cannot for the life of him imitate it ever again. That is when you call your band SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. Things are funnier then, like low-brow humor. Especially low-brow humor.