The oaks of New Jersey.

November 2. 

November 2

Sunday. Took a walk two miles west of Eagleswood. The Quercus palustris, or pin oak, very common there, much like the scarlet oak. Name said to be derived from the dead stub ends of branches on the trunk beneath, like pins or treenails. Its acorns subglobose, and marked with meridional lines. 

A mile and a half west of Spring's, a new oak, with narrow and entire willow-like leaves, apparently Q. imbricaria, laurel or shingle oak, or perhaps Michaux's Q. cinerea, which may be a variety of it. 

According to Michaux's plates, I see that the leaves of the Q. Phellos, or willow oak, are about two and three quarters by one third plus inches, of the laurel oak three and a half by seven eighths. His upland willow oak (Q. cinerea) leaf is about three by three quarters and less tapering at base. 

Cornus florida

The Cornus florida was exceedingly common and large there. Conspicuous with its scarlet berries, fed on by robins. The leaves were turned a brown scarlet or orange red.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, November 2, 1856 


Bronson Alcott, recorded in his journal for Nov. 2, 1856:

Evening, Thoreau reads his lecture on Walking to the whole company, and interests his company deeply in his treatment of nature. Never had such a walk as this been taken by any one before, and the conversation so flowing and lively and curious – the young people enjoying it particularly.

The oaks of New Jersey.  Compare note to  November 2, 1860 ("Wetherbee's oak wood ...I doubt if there is another hereabouts of oaks as large.")

The Cornus florida was exceedingly common . . .    See May 22, 1856 ("The Cornus florida does not bloom this year."); May 25, 1855 ("Cornus florida, no bloom. Was there year before last? Does it not flower every other year?”)