Log Search Results

  A considerable fog, but already rising and retreating to the river. There are dewy cobwebs on the grass. The morning came in and awakened me early,—for I slept with a window open,—and the chip-bird was heard also. As I go along the causeway the [sun] rises red, with a great red halo, through the fog. When I reach the hill, the fog over the river already has its erectile feathers up. I am a little too late. But the level expanse of it far in the east, now lit by the sun, with countless tree-tops like oases seen through it, reminds of vast tracts of sand and of the seashore . . .

  Buttonwood not open. Celandine pollen. Butternut pollen, apparently a day or two. Black oak pollen yesterday, at least. Scarlet oak the same, but a little later. The staminate flowers of the first are on long and handsome tassels for three or four inches along the extremities of last year’s shoots . . .

  P.M.—To Cliffs.

  Wind suddenly changed to south this forenoon, and for the first time I think of a thin coat. It is very hazy in consequence of the sudden warmth after cold, and I cannot see the mountains . . .

  Humphrey Buttrick says that he hears the note of the woodcock from the village in April and early in May . . .

  To-day is suddenly overpoweringly warm. Thermometer at 1 P.M., 94º in the shade! but in the afternoon it suddenly fell to 56, and it continued cold the next two days.

  White ash, apparently yesterday, at Grape Shore but not at Conantum. What a singular appearance for some weeks its great masses of dark-purple anthers have made, fruit-like on the trees!

  A very warm morning. Now the birds sing more than ever, methinks, now, when the leaves are fairly expanding, the first really warm summer days . . .

  All through Connecticut and New York the white involucres of the cornel (C.Florida), recently expanded, some of them reddish or rosaccous, are now conspicuous.It is not quite expanded in Concord. It is the most showy indigenous tree now open . . .

  P.M.—To Cliffs.

  I see in a ditch a painted turtle nibbling the edge of a frost-bitten yellow lily pad (in the water), which has turned white. Other pads have evidently been nibbled by him, having many scallops or notches in their edges, just the form of his jaws . . .

  Looking into the northwest horizon, I see that Wachusett is partially concealed by a haze . . .

  River, say 60 rods wide, or ¾ to 1 mile between bluffs. Broad flooded low intervals covered wiht willow in bloom (20 feet high, rather, slender) & probably other kinds & elm & white maple & cottonwood. Now boatable between the trees & probably many ducks there. Bluffs say 150 to 200 ft. high. Rarely room for a village at base of cliffs. Oaks on top (white ?) ash, elm, aspen, Bass on slope & by shore. Kingfishers, small ducks, swallows, jays, &c.

  land on the shore often with a plank. Great rafts of boards & shingles 4 or 5 rods wide & 15 or 20 long. Very few small boats. Holes in sides of hill, at Cassville where lead [has been] dug. Occasionally a little lonely house on a flat or slope is often deserted. Banks in primitive condition between the towns, which is almost everywhere. Load some 9 or 10 cords of wood at a landing. 20 men in 10 minutes. Disturb a bat which flies aboard. Willow shown floating horizontally across the river. Low islands occasionally. Macgregor a new town opposite to Prairie du Chien, the smartest town on the river. Exports the most wheat of any town between St. Paul & St. Louis. Wheat in sacks. Great heaps at P. du Chien, covered at night & all over the ground & the only seed wheat.