P. M. —To Conantum.
Another clear cold day, though not so cold as yesterday. The light and sun come to us directly and freely, as if some obstruction had been removed,—the windows of heaven had been washed.
I see some farmers now cutting up their corn.
The sweet Viburnum leaves hang thinly on the bushes and are a dull crimsonish red.
What apples are left out now, I presume that the farmers do not mean to gather.
October 24, 2025
The witch-hazel is still freshly in flower, and near it I see a houstonia in bloom.
The hillside is slippery with new-fallen white pine leaves.
The leaves of the oaks and hickories have begun to be browned, — lost their brilliancy.
I return by way of the mocker-nut trees. The squirrels have already begun on them, though the trees are still covered with yellow and brown leaves, and the nuts do not fall.
A little this side I see a red squirrel dash out from the wall, snatch an apple from amid many on the ground, and, running swiftly up the tree with it, proceed to eat it, sitting on a smooth dead limb, with its back to the wind and its tail curled close over its back.
The song sparrow still sings on a button-bush.
H. D. Thoreau, Journal, October 26, 1855
Another clear cold day, though not so cold as yesterday. See October 25, 1855 ("After these pleasant and warm days it is suddenly cold and windy.")
The sweet Viburnum leaves hang thinly on the bushes and are a dull crimsonish red. See October 11, 1858 ("The Viburnum Lentago is generally a dull red on a green ground, but its leaves are yet quite fresh."); October 23, 1853 ("Viburnum Lentago, with ripe berries and dull-glossy red leaves."); October 31, 1858 ("The Viburnum Lentago is about bare") See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The Viburnums
What apples are left out now, I presume that the farmers do not mean to gather. See October 25, 1855 (“Now gather all your apples, if you have not before, or the frost will have them.”)
The witch-hazel is still freshly in flower. See October 23, 1852 ("The sprays of the witch-hazel are sprinkled on the air, and recurved.") See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The Witch-Hazel
The hillside is slippery with new-fallen white pine leaves. See October 25, 1853 ("The ground is strewn with pine-needles as sunlight.") See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The October Pine Fall
The trees are still covered with yellow and brown leaves, and the nuts do not fall. See October 13, 1857 ("I look down into a mocker-nut, whose recesses and greater part are pure yellow, and from this you pass through a ruddy orange in the more exposed leaves to a rich crispy brown in the leaves of the extreme twigs about the clusters of round green nuts."); November 18, 1858 ("Now is the time to gather the mocker-nuts.")
I see a red squirrel dash out from the wall, snatch an apple from amid many. See December 16, 1855 ("See two red squirrels on the fence . . . One sits twirling apparently a dried apple in his paws, with his tail curled close over his back as if to keep it warm, fitting its curve. How much smothered sunlight in their wholesome brown red this misty day! ") See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The Red Squirrel
The song sparrow still sings on a button-bush. See October 16, 1855 ("Then, nearer home, I hear two or three song sparrows on the button-bushes sing as in spring, — that memorable tinkle, — as if it would be last as it was first."); October 27, 1853 ("Song sparrows flitting about, with the three spots on breast.")
October 26. See A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, October 26
Oaks and hickories
have lost their brilliancy –
begun to be browned.
Sweet Viburnum leaves
hang thinly on the bushes
dull crimsonish red.
A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Oaks and hickories have lost their brilliancy
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 © 2009-2025
https://tinyurl.com/hdt551026
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