MYboretum: February 2010

As I spend more time with Arnold and as I learn more about the experience of landscape I find myself more aware of subtle reactions. With this new attentiveness I have taken to visiting different parts of the Arnold. Bussey Hill is the summit in the main section of Arnold, more popular then Peter's Hill because of the close proximity to the main gates and the wide, paved road to the top. I had sort of avoided Bussey Hill since moving here, it is further away from where I generally go and I assumed the view would be the same as the one from Peter's Hill. As a part of learning about Peter's Hill I figured it was time to go to Bussey Hill to compare the two main peaks of Arnold. Would it be remarkably different then Peter's Hill and how?

Aerial View of Bussey Hill summit made from Google Maps.

In fact the experience of being on Bussey Hill is totally different than Peter's Hill. As one snakes their way to the top, the landscape of Boston is taken in 360 degrees. Upon reaching the summit a short fence designates the place to take in the scenic view. From here, the landscape audience is given the vista of outer Roslindale all the way to the Blue Hills Reserve. Standing there I felt like I was in different place, removed from Boston. Much like the experience of a tourist look out point or from the side of the highway with a landscape viewing platform, I could have been standing at the top of Mount Holyoke as the Massachusetts landscape stretched in front of me. Foreground, middle ground and background neatly laid out from the viewing area I felt like a tourist looking at a new landscape, meanwhile the familiar cityscape of Boston stood quietly behind me staring at Peter's Hill.
I suppose the thing about hill tops and mountain peaks is how they can help place ourselves within a topography. Looking over the land I can more easily grasp my scale and location in relation to the entire world. The high elevation allows greater freedom to possess the land as we read it and choose the piece that is most important to us. In this case standing on Bussey Hill turned me around to what lay beyond Peter. Next time I stand on Peter's Hill looking at the Boston I will know the Blue Hills are behind me.

View from Bussey Hill, February 19, 2010