grimescd's Journal

Today I walked around a similar area as I did last time. I walked around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir and the Pine area right next to the Recreation Center. I love Pine Trees as they remind me from back home, so of course that had to be one of my observations. I found some ferns as well, and it’s cool to see them up close instead of just an image in the modules. Seeing them up close makes it even that more interesting when you learn about them. My favorite was the plant with a fuzzy structure at the top. I couldn’t identify it but I found it very pretty and interesting. After my pictures, I found myself continuing to walk around as it was a beautiful day. The nice cool breeze with the sun out and he fresh air made a stressful week just a little more bearable.

I decided to walk around the reservoir today (mostly around the part with the trees). It was beautiful and sunny as the water reflected the bright sun. I looked for fungi, but mostly found lichen. Lichen can be considered as a fungi, but it is more of a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an algae. This lichen was growing on different kinds of trees and even rocks! I don’t remember seeing lichen growing on rocks before. I then saw moss growing on the bottom of the trees around the reservoir. The moss would grow on the base of the tree and even slightly upwards. My favorite part about this walk was the lichen we had just recently learned about. It’s a unique feeling seeing what you learn up in person.

P.S. I walked the entire reservoir and around for more than 30 minutes!!! My pictures all say 3:30 because that’s when I sent them to my computer! I promise I was there much longer than 30 minutes!!!!

For my nature walk I decided to walk behind the dorms on Newton Campus. I chose this spot because it is a very green and vibrant area (or so it seemed before I walked). In reality, it was not as vibrant as I’d hoped, but I found what I could. There was a lack of fungi or animals, however, there was a vibrant array of colors in the trees and leaves. The leaves could be bright green, or yellow, or orange, and sadly, even brown. Fall is truly here and the leaves will show it. This is the unique point where the leaves are an arrangement of all colors, not only brown. Some leaves are still alive and well, while others are dead and brown. I enjoyed seeing this unique state of fall that we are currently in.