All vegetation is refreshed by the rain.

May 21. 

Wintergreen had started the 18th at least. 

Noticed the shadows of apple trees yesterday.

Cold,  at 11 A.M. 50°; and sit by a fire. At 12 it begins to rain.

All vegetation is refreshed by the rain. The grass appears to stand perfectly erect and on tiptoe, several inches higher all at once, the fresh green in every field. The color of the new leaves is surprising.

The birches by the railroad, as I am whirled by them in the cars, flash upon me yellow as gamboge, their leaves more like flowers than foliage.

H.D. Thoreau, Journal, May 21, 1860

Noticed the shadows of apple trees yesterday. See May 24, 1860  (“I notice the first shadows of hickories, - not dense and dark shade, but open-latticed, a network of sun and shadow on the north sides of the trees.”)

May 21 . Cold , — at 11 A . M . 50° ; and sit by a fire . At 12 it begins to rain . P . M . – To Cambridge . All vegetation is refreshed by the rain . The grass appears to stand perfectly erect and on tiptoe , several inches higher , all [ at ] once in every field , the fresh green prevailing over the brown ground in every field . The color of the new leaves is surprising . The birches by the railroad , as I am whirled by them in the cars , flash upon me yellow as gamboge , their leaves more like flowers than foliage . Wintergreen had started the 18th at least . Noticed the shadows of apple trees yesterday .