Nature in My Neighborhood- Sofia

 

   My house is a few blocks north of campus in a quiet, calm area with lots of plants and animals bustling around. The building I live in is over 100 years old, and I'm lucky enough to have a decent amount of yard space. Over the years, the yard hasn't been groomed or detailed, so there is a large variety of plants overlapping each other. There is a towering tree in my yard that drops hundreds of tiny pinecones all over the ground. I find them in my house and in my car, and at this time of year, they have practically coated the grass. I believe it is a Western Hemlock, which I know is native to our area. There is also a sort of spiky vine wrapped around it, which was interesting to me. I was also intrigued by the yellow and red buds that appear to turn into a purply berry I don't recognize. I wish I had more knowledge about the names and origins of plants in my area, it's a subject I would like to work on. 

I find a lot of nature in unexpected areas in my neighborhood. Since many of the buildings and stairs around my house are old. There are many species of small plants and moss that grow out of the cracks in the walls and the pavement. There is also a lot of ivy in my neighborhood, growing up the walls and encasing tree trunks and railings. I know ivy is quite invasive, but I think it can be really beautiful. Recently, there has been a deer that sits in a small patch of grass behind my house. It's hard to get a good photo of her and the one I included isn't the best quality, but I love how big her ears are. I would consider the nature in my area to be quite healthy. I'm definitely not an expert, but I see so many different types of plants and animals as well as strong colors and sturdy leaves. I see a lot of new sprouts shooting out of the ground and blossoming on trees and bushes. I believe these are signs of healthy wildlife.