6 A.M. – Dug up two of half a dozen, the only black spruce suitable to transplant that I know hereabouts.
Rain all day, making the grass look green. Nawshawtuct now in the rain looks about as green as a Roxbury russet –– the russet is yielding to the green.
Perhaps the greenness of the landscape may be said to begin fairly now.
H. D. Thoreau, Journal, April 28, 1854
The leafing of the gooseberry, or earliest native shrub. See April 13, 1856 ("The early gooseberry leaf-buds in garden have burst,"); April 17, 1855("The earliest gooseberry leaves are fairly unfolding now, and show some green at a little distance."); April 21, 1855 ("The frost conceals the green of the gooseberry leaves just expanding. "); April 23, 1855 (" The currant and second gooseberry are bursting into leaf"); April 24, 1856 ("The earliest gooseberry leaf has spread a third of an inch or more.") See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Leaf-Out
Perhaps the greenness of the landscape may be said to begin fairly now. See April 4, 1859 ("Brown Season of the spring lasts from the time the snow generally begins to go off. . .through the first week of April this year. Ordinary years it must be somewhat later.")
April 28, 2019
For the last half of this month, indeed, a tinge of green has been discernible on the sides of hills. Saw yesterday some cows turned out to pasture on such a hillside; thought they would soon eat up all the grass. This is coincident, then, with the leafing of the gooseberry, or earliest native shrub.
First, you may say, is the starting of a few radical leaves, etc., and grass blades in favorable localities, and the blossoming of the earliest trees and herbs.
Secondly, during the last half of April the earth acquires a distinct tinge of green, which finally prevails over the russet.
Third. Then begins the leafing of the earliest shrubs and trees and the decided greenness and floweriness of the earth, in May.
Fourth. Then the decided leafiness in June and the first great crop of the year, the leaf or grass crop.
First, you may say, is the starting of a few radical leaves, etc., and grass blades in favorable localities, and the blossoming of the earliest trees and herbs.
Secondly, during the last half of April the earth acquires a distinct tinge of green, which finally prevails over the russet.
Third. Then begins the leafing of the earliest shrubs and trees and the decided greenness and floweriness of the earth, in May.
Fourth. Then the decided leafiness in June and the first great crop of the year, the leaf or grass crop.
H. D. Thoreau, Journal, April 28, 1854
The leafing of the gooseberry, or earliest native shrub. See April 13, 1856 ("The early gooseberry leaf-buds in garden have burst,"); April 17, 1855("The earliest gooseberry leaves are fairly unfolding now, and show some green at a little distance."); April 21, 1855 ("The frost conceals the green of the gooseberry leaves just expanding. "); April 23, 1855 (" The currant and second gooseberry are bursting into leaf"); April 24, 1856 ("The earliest gooseberry leaf has spread a third of an inch or more.") See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Leaf-Out
Perhaps the greenness of the landscape may be said to begin fairly now. See April 4, 1859 ("Brown Season of the spring lasts from the time the snow generally begins to go off. . .through the first week of April this year. Ordinary years it must be somewhat later.")
- .grass blades in favorable localities. See April 1, 1855 ("When I look out the window I see that the grass on the bank on the south side of the house is already much greener than it was yesterday; April 10, 1855 ("There is the slightest perceptible green on the hill now.")
- a distinct tinge of green, which finally prevails over the russet. See April 14, 1854 ("There is a general tinge of green now discernible through the russet on the bared meadows and the hills, the green blades just peeping forth amid the withered ones. "); April 23, 1854 ("How thickly the green blades are starting up amid the russet! The tinge of green is gradually increasing in the face of the russet earth."); April 25, 1859 ( "I got to-day and yesterday the first decided impression of greenness beginning to prevail")
- the decided greenness and floweriness of the earth, in May. See May 18, 1852 ("I doubt if the landscape will be any greener.")
- the decided leafiness in June. See May 26, 1854 (At sight of this deep and dense field all vibrating with motion and light, winter recedes many degrees in my memory. . . . The season of grass, now everywhere green and luxuriant."); June 9, 1852 ("The general leafiness, shadiness, and waving of grass and boughs in the breeze characterize the season.")
The distinct greenness
of the landscape now prevails
over the russet.
A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The four seasons of greenness.
A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau
"A book, each page written in its own season,
out-of-doors, in its own locality."
~edited, assembled and rewritten by zphx © 2009-2024
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