Branching out: nature in the city

As the tips of the deciduous trees redden and the blushing leaves take flight off their branches, I am reminded that this turn of season is the first…

As the tips of the deciduous trees redden and the blushing leaves take flight off their branches, I am reminded that this turn of season is the first in over a decade that I have lived away from my hometown. As a lifelong nature-lover and committed cross country runner throughout high school, I have grown up outdoors and ran year-round in the heat, sleet and snow. On the routes alongside Rock Creek, there is not a bush or tributary brook I am unfamiliar with.

But this year, those dear dirt trails, the rivulets of weathered bark on each tree, every inlet and glistening expanse of the lakes - they will all travel through the seasons without me. I will not be there when the familiar shallows of my hometown lakes transition from a deep clear blue in the summer sun to a patchwork of orange and red reflections beneath the autumn branches.

There will be an emptiness in the space I would have quietly sat when the first winter chill blows the last papery leaves through the pale blue air. Instead, I am learning to live in a new city made of concrete and distinctly architectured rowhomes, and I am faced with the task of finding new comforting instances of nature to anchor myself in this time of change.

Fortunately, Baltimore has far more to offer by way of scenery than the fascinating occurrences of cathedrals crammed against tiny convenience stores, or even than its multitude of awe-inspiring graffiti art. In my brief experience here at Hopkins, I have sought out and basked in the serenity and novelty of several gorgeous landscapes and parklands, most of which are within walks of campus.

Nestled in the picturesque Guilford neighborhood, Sherwood Gardens is at the top of the list, as a gorgeous and accessible study or relaxation spot. While it is far too manicured to be considered any sort of wilderness, these gardens offer acres of flora and fauna, with new floral designs and varieties being planted continually throughout each season.