Tyler House Woods, although still wild and natural, is affected by the people and dwellings which surround it. I believe the influence man has played on these woods has affected the plants and animals which live within its boundaries, for while walking through Tyler House Woods, I saw multiple signs of man and their influence on the plant life there.

            I started out to Tyler House Woods on September 12^th, 2009 at around three o’clock in the afternoon. The weather, at the time, was cloudy. There had been a slight drizzle earlier in the day, but the rain had stopped for now. Walking toward Tyler House Woods, I came upon Tyler House and a parking lot occupied by multiple cars. The parking lot is only a few feet from the site, making it easy for human activity to affect the plants and animals of the woods.

            Upon entering the site, I noticed that there were lots of dead foliage on the forest floor, mostly dead leaves, sticks and twigs, and rotting logs. Along the curb, where the cement met the woods, a line of ants trailed across the ground. Other insects present included an American Bumble Bee and mosquitoes.

            Bordering the woods, were Spice Bushes and White Snakeroot. I spotted the American Bubble Bee flying around the blossoms of the White Snakeroot. Deeper into the woods, I noticed that the trees were, for the most part, deciduous such as the Silver Maple and the Red Maple. The leaves were mostly green, and there were very few signs of color change. I spotted one cone which looked like it could belong to one of the variety of Spruce trees.

            Besides the large trees that were growing there, there were also many young trees growing beneath the shade of the older ones. These trees may have been planted by people, or they may have grown naturally. Either way, it shows that the Tyler House Woods is thriving. These saplings may also be replacing those trees which were cut down. Remnants of these trees, such as the remaining stumps and dead logs, can be seen on the forest floor.

            Besides trees, there were also different types of foliage that covered the ground. This foliage included Bracken, Periwinkle, and Calico Aster. A large patch of Periwinkle was present at the back of the site, but only a few blooms could be seen.

            Next to the Periwinkle, there was a manmade path, which led to a house beyond the woods. To the right of the path, there was also a fence and a shed. I also found some remnants of a glass bottle and a little paper and trash. With the woods surrounded by homes and because it is accessible by a path, one can see how easily the woods can be influenced by human existence.

            Between the path and the small shed were a cluster of trees. One of these trees was dead and had smooth, white bark. Upon this tree, perched, what looked to be, a Barred Owl. It sat calm and still as a number of other birds sang nearby, which included a flock of geese, which momentarily flew above the woods. In addition to birds, I also saw one grey squirrel wandering around a little outside the bounds of my site.

            Tyler House Woods is a site rich with a variety of plants and animals, many of which I probably missed on my first outing, and from the looks of the small saplings growing within the woods and the presence of people within close proximity to the site, I believe Tyler House Woods is still a growing and changing site effected both by nature and people.