Summer commenced

June 24.

The dogdayish weather continues.

That hilly road through Baker's land to Bare Hill is a true up-country road with the scent of ferns along it.

Start a  woodcock from amid ferns.


All plants leafed, and summer commenced.

H. D. Thoreau,  Journal, June 24, 1860

Start a woodcock from amid ferns. See June 15, 1851 ("A solitary woodcock in the shade goes off with a startled, rattling, hurried note."); July 15, 1857 ("Scare up . . . two woodcocks in the shady alder marsh at Well Meadow, which go off with a whistling flight."); July 18, 1856 ("Again scare up a woodcock, apparently seated or sheltered in shadow of ferns in the meadow on the cool mud in the hot afternoon.")