Sweet scents in the air

June 3.

June 3, 2015

These are the clear breezy days of early June, when the leaves are young and few and the sorrel not yet in its prime.  




The roads now strewn with red maple seed. 

The foliage of deciduous trees is still rather yellow-green than green.

There are various sweet scents in the air now. 

I perceive the meadow fragrance, and, along an arborvitae hedge, a very distinct fragrance like strawberries.

H.D. Thoreau, Journal, June 3, 1860

The roads now strewn with red maple seed. See June 2, 1859 ("Red maple seed is partly blown off. Some of it is conspicuously whitish or light-colored on the trees."); June 7, 1860 ("Red maple seed is still in the midst of its fall; is blown far from the trees.")

Sweet scents in the air now. I perceive the meadow fragrance . . . See May 27, 1856 ("perceived the meadow fragrance"): May 27, 1855 ("The meadow fragrance to-day"); June 3, 1854 ("the blossoms of the huckleberries and blueberries impart a sweet scent to the whole hillside.")

June 3

Went out to Cambridge to see Merritt. He had not got back from home. Went to Hear [] preach in the AM. George Whitten came out from Malden.

EDK, June 3, 1860

A moonlit paddle

June 2.

A cool evening. A cold, white twilight sky after the air has been cleared by rain, and now the trees are seen very distinctly against it, - not yet heavy masses of verdure, but a light openwork, the leaves being few and small yet, as regularly open as a sieve.

Bats go over, and a kingbird, very late. Mosquitoes are pretty common.

There is more distinct sound from animals than by day, and an occasional bullfrog's trump is heard. Turning the island, I hear a very faint and slight sound once, and suspect a screech owl, which I after see on an oak. I soon hear its mournful scream, probably to its mate, not loud now, but, though within twenty or thirty rods, sounding a mile off.

Water-bugs dimple the surface now quite across the river, in the moonlight, for it is a full moon. 

The evergreens are very dark and heavy.

H.D. Thoreau, Journal, June 2, 1860

Water-bugs dimple the surface now quite across the river, in the moonlight, for it is a full moon. See June 30,1852 (“I see the bright curves made by the water-bugs in the moonlight . . .now at 9 o'clock. ”); August 8, 1851 (“As I recross the string-pieces of the bridge, I see the water-bugs swimming briskly in the moonlight . . .”)

Anniversary Week

June 2.

The past has been Anniversary Week in Boston, and there have been several rainy or cloudy days. Cleared up at noon to-day. This Anniversary Week is said to be commonly rainy.

There is a lively and washing northwest wind after the rain. The waves are breaking on this shore with a swash. The air is cleansed and clear, and the waves, as I look toward the sun, sparkle with so bright and white a light, - so peculiarly fresh and bright.

The impurities have all come down out of the air.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, June 2, 1860

The air is cleansed and clear, and the waves sparkle with so bright and white a light. Compare June 9, 1852 ("For a week past we have had washing days. . . . The weather is very clear, and the sky bright. The river shines like silver.”); June 23, 1852 ("It is an agreeably cool and clear and breezy day, when all things appear as if washed bright and shine, . . . The air is cleared and cooled by yesterday's thunder-storms. The river too has a fine, cool, silvery sparkle or sheen on it.”)

June 2

Rec'd from James Bliss 34 dollars on account. Paid J Adams in full for board up to the end of this week. For board 4.29

EDK, June 2, 1860

June 1

Went up to the Quincy House in the eve to see LC Fay

EDK, June 1, 1860

May 31

Rec'd a letter from Stillman & [?]

Answered the former

EDK, May 31, 1860