April Blog
This month has been a month of chaotic weather, exponential growth in species populations, and generally a month signaling the start of a new life. I spent my time this month scattered throughout Austin as a way to take in every beautiful park and nature preserve. As Aldo Leopold described in his Sand County Almanac, “parks are made to bring the music to the many, but by the time many are attuned to hear it there is little left but noise” (159). Because of my extended time experiencing nature I was able to see slight changes in many different places.
Beginning in Blunn Creek, which sparked my love for exploring the natural beauty of Austin, I will describe the changes I have observed since I began my observations in January and how humans have impacted the preserve. Of course with the changing season I have been able to watch the trees regain their leaves, the wildflowers (particularly bluebonnets) bloom, and the green return to the browned preserve. One visit in particular perfectly described my frequent visits to the park. As I was sitting next to the creek, watching minnows mindlessly glide through the water, I saw a glimpse of something moving around by the china berry trees, which, might I add, just erupted with the brightest red berries I had ever seen. After sitting patiently for a few moments, a family of rabbits appeared. This visit was filed with color, life, and joy—the perfect description of April in Blunn Creek.
Another place I frequented was Barton Springs, mostly to kayak though I was able to make many observations from my spot on the water. One of these observations was of the water itself. Because of the frequent heavy storms I was able to watch the water levels rise slightly. The storms also benefitted the vegetation surrounding the spring, which has grown more lush and green through the month. The most memorable night spent in Barton Springs was the night I saw fireflies for the first time. The magical little creatures lit up the foliage like stars in a clear sky. I have never seen anything as beautiful as the reflection of the fireflies against the dark blue water.
The third and final location I will be discussing in this blog is Zilker Park, a wide-open yet beautiful oasis where one can lay in the grass and forget they’re in a big city. This is exactly what I did. As I was sitting in the grass enjoying the uninterrupted sunshine I was able to hear and see all of the birds leaving the south after a particularly harsh winter. I watched squirrels running around, probably trying to mate given the season. Over the month I have watched the color return to the grass and the people return to the field, eager to enjoy the beautiful spring weather.
This month, the true first month of spring, has brought the green back to Austin’s parks and preserves. I would like to conclude with a quote from Aldo Leopold; “It is inconceivable to me that an ethical relation to land can exist without love, respect, and admiration for land, and a high regard to its value. By value, I of course mean something far broader than mere economic value; I mean value in the philosophical sense” (261).
Reflection and Critique
The following reflection will be critiquing my experiences with this assignment including points of improvement and areas of strength, a general reflection on the assignment, and my thoughts toward the semester word cloud. I will begin by explaining that I am very grateful for the experiences I have had through these observations and the many life-changing actions they have inspired. I strongly believe that everyone should spend at least an hour a week enjoying our natural environment.
That being said, all assignments should be critiqued so to be perfected and provide the best educational experience. Areas for improvement are hard to find regarding this particular assignment, however, there are a few. Though it is a rather easy process with few requirements and a lot of freedom, sometimes it is just simply impossible to fit time into the week to visit these locations. For example, this March was particularly busy for me. A good friend of mine lost her mother to cancer so the majority of my time was spent with her or in Houston with her family. On top of that I also work 16 or more hours a week and carry a 15-hour course load and all the homework associated with it. This being said, a one-month grace period would be very helpful in combating the busy schedules I know many people have. This was my only struggle with the assignment, however. It was really easy to find diverse places for observation and to access these places. With the amount of freedom regarding the actual content of the blogs I found it easy to complete the majority of them.
Looking back on the semester, I am glad I spent so much time outside. What we discussed in class is definitely true, being surrounded by nature has a way of calming and relaxing you in a way nothing else can. The reason I spent so much time outside this month was purely because of how stressful it was. Anytime I felt like I needed a break I would immediately go on a walk to Blunn Creek or drive down to Zilker or Barton Springs. Overall, I am grateful for having to take part in this Travis County Almanac.
Regarding the word cloud, “beautiful” and “time” appear to be two of the most common words used. Given that each of our locations were amazingly beautiful this is completely justified. The beauty of our natural environment is undeniable. And given the amount of time we spent in these areas, experiencing their natural cycles and their growth, it is completely understandable as to why that would be a common word. The beautiful, time-consuming, work around us has captivated my heart and turned this shut-in-couch-potato into a true outdoorsman.