June 4th

A bouquet from this date in Thoreau’s Journal:

1850: The first of June, when the lady’s-slipper and the wild pink have come out in sunny places on the hillsides, then the summer is begun according to the clock of the seasons.

1855: Thus it is after the first important rain at this season. The song of birds is more lively and seems to have a new character; a new season has commenced.

1857: One thing that chiefly distinguishes this season from three weeks ago is that fine serene undertone or earth-song as we go by sunny banks and hillsides, the creak of crickets, which affects our thoughts so favorably, imparting its own serenity.

1860: Now there is a similar departure of the warblers, on the expansion of the leaves and advent of yet warmer weather. Their season with us, i.e. the season of those that go further, is when the buds are bursting, till the leaves are about expanded; and probably they follow these phenomena northward till they get to their breeding-places, flying from tree to tree, i.e. to the next tree which contains their insect prey….The clear brightness of June was well represented yesterday by the buttercups along the roadside. Their yellow cups are glossy and varnished within, but not without.

You may say that now, when most trees have fully expanded leaves and the black ash fairly shows green, the leafy season has fairly commenced. (I see that I so called it May 31 and 27, 1853.)

June 3, 1854

in Thoreau’s Journal:

Going up Fair Haven Hill the blossoms of the huckleberries & blue berries imparted a sweet scent to the whole hill-side.

June 2, 1853

in Thoreau’s Journal:

The pinxter flower growing as it does as an underwood in the shade of larger trees––the naked umbels of its lively rose pink flowers are seen flashing out against a back ground of green or of dark shaded recesses–

June 1, 1853

in Thoreau’s Journal:

Quite a fog this morning.

Does it not always follow the cooler nights after the first really warm weather about the end of May?

June 1, 2017 Photo

May 31, 1854

in Thoreau’s Journal:

A cold southeast wind.

Blue-eyed grass, apparently in pretty good season.

May 30, 1853

in Thoreau’s Journal:

The common blue-flag––

just out at Ball’s Hill.

May 29, 1853

in Thoreau’s Journal:

That exceedingly neat & interesting little flower blue-eyed grass now claims our attention.

May 28, 1853

in Thoreau’s Journal:

This warm hazy afternoon the sun is shorn of his beams now at six o clock––& the lupines do not look so well for it––

their lilac tints show best looking at them towards the sun for they are transparent.

May 27, 1853

in Thoreau’s Journal:

Blue eyed grass has been out some time….

May 26th

in Thoreau’s Journal:

1852

The air is full of the odor of apple blossoms— Yet the air is fresh as from the salt water. The meadow smells sweet as you go along low places in the road at sundown.

1853

A new season has commenced – summer- leafy June….The buttercups in the churchyard are now in perfection.

1854

The season of grass, now everywhere green and luxuriant.

May 25, 1853

in Thoreau’s Journal:

Within the last week or so the grass & leaves have grown many shades darker––& if we had leaped from last wednesday to this we should have been startled by the change—the dark bluish green of the rank grass especially. How rapidly the young twigs shoot—the plants trees—shrubs—no sooner leaf out than they shoot forward surprisingly as if they had acquired a head by being repressed so long.

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They do not grow nearly so rapidly at any season. Many do most of the growing for the year in a week or two at this season. They shoot—they spring & the rest of the year they harden & mature. & perhaps have a 2nd spring in the later part of the summer or in the fall.

May 24, 1854

in Thoreau’s Journal:

The sun rises red––with a great red halo through the fog.

May 23rd

1852

in Thoreau’s Journal:

The buttercup season has arrived here.

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1853

in Thoreau’s Journal:

As the seasons revolve toward July. Every new flower that opens, no doubt, expresses a new mood of the human mind….

I see the light purple of rhodora enlivening the edges of swamps––another color the sun wears.

It is a beautiful shrub seen afar & makes a great show from the abundance of its bloom unconcealed by leaves––rising about the andromeda- Is it not the most showy high colored flower or shrub? Flowers are the dif colors of the sun light.

May 22, 1854

in Thoreau’s Journal:

How many times I have been surprised thus on turning about on this very spot at the fairness of the earth!

May 21, 1852

in Thoreau’s Journal:

The earlier apple trees are in bloom––& resound with the hum of bees of all sizes & other insects. To sit under the 1st apple tree in blossom is to take another step into summer. The apple blossoms are so abundant & full–white tinged with red–a rich–scented pomona fragrance–telling of heaps of apples in the autumn––perfectly innocent wholesome & delicious.

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

May 20, 1852

in Thoreau’s Journal:

All flowers are beautiful….Some apple trees in blossom– Most are just ready to burst forth–the leaves being half formed….

A ladies slipper well budded & now white…The white violets by the spring are rather scarce now.

May 19, 1860

in Thoreau’s Journal:

This is the season when the meadow grass is seen waving in the wind at the same time that the shadows of clouds are passing over it.

May 18, 1852

in Thoreau’s Journal:

The Rhodora in blossom––a delicate colored flower.

May 17, 1852

in Thoreau’s Journal:

The different color of the water at different times would be worth observing. To day it is full of light & life––the breeze presenting many surfaces to the sun. There is a sparkling shimmer on it. It is a deep dark blue as the sky is clear. The air every where is, as it were, full of the rippling of waves.

May 16, 1852

in Thoreau’s Journal:

The woods putting forth new leaves; it is a memorable season. So hopeful!