Nature in my Neighborhood — Contessa

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As a resident of Edens Hall on WWU’s north campus, I have had the privilege of calling the Sehome Hill Arboretum my backyard. I have lived in Edens since September of 2024, and while I was drawn in by the majestic architecture, I stayed for the community and access to the forest. I’m very lucky to have such a beautiful escape behind my building. When I’m itching for the arboretum but don’t have time for an adventure, just down the hallway from my room, I can find a beautiful arboretum view from an atrium lounge for chilly days and a courtyard for warmer ones.

I often journey into the arboretum with my friends and by myself, even in the winter when blessed with the perfect combination of unscheduled hours during daylight and unusually sunny weather. I love to travel back and forth to Fairhaven College along the Huntoon Trail and North Reservoir Trail, and on special occasions, I watch the stars and northern lights from the Observation Tower.

I often see birds, sometimes squirrels, and rarely rabbits. I feel so small compared to the towering trees, but the ferns remind me I’m a relatively tall organism, even at 5’2”. To my knowledge, much of the arboretum’s life is native, but invasive English ivy and holly can be found there. I also see periwinkle, which I learned last year is filled with sweet, easy-to-extract nectar, and my friends and I subsequently spent the spring scouring for periwinkle flowers. I typically see people being respectful of the arboretum, but sometimes, parties and shows leave behind trash. Our community tends to fight against litter, however, so I rarely hear about these incidents.

People of the Pacific Northwest engage with nature very differently than in my hometown in Pennsylvania. I grew up surrounded by people who go to the beach in the Carolinas for a week once a year and otherwise don’t spend time outside except to walk their dog. Since moving here, I’ve adjusted to seeking nature rather than being intimidated by it. It’s truly the greatest gift of Bellingham to be within walking distance of the Sehome Hill Arboretum, Bellingham Bay, and countless trails and parks. I’m so grateful for this place, and I can’t wait to learn more from nature as I continue my college education.

I took these photos on the Huntoon Trail on Friday, January 16th, a sunny, clear day serving as the epitome of false spring.

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