This morning the first frost.

September 14. 

September 14, 2017

This morning the first frost. Yet the 10th was one of the warmest days in the year. 

Methinks it is the Amaranthus hypochondriacus, prince's-feather, with "bright red-purple flowers " and sanguine stem, on Emerson's muck-heap in the Turnpike, and the Polygonum orientale, prince's-feather, in E. Hosmer's grounds.

Blue vervain still. 

The grass is very green after the rains, like a second spring, and, in my ride yesterday, the under sides of the willows, etc., in the wind, the leaves of the fall growth perhaps, reminded me of June. 

Is not the colder and frosty weather thus introduced by a rain? i. e. it clears up cold.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal September 14, 1852

Amaranthus hypochondriacus, prince's-feather, with "bright red-purple flowers " See July 29, 1854 ("Amaranthus hypochondriacus, apparently some days, with its interesting spotted leaf, lake beneath, and purple spike; amid the potatoes."); August 16, 1856 ("Amaranthus hypochondriacus, how long?")

The Polygonum orientale, prince's-feather, in E. Hosmer's grounds.See August 16. 1853 ("The Polygonum orientale, probably some days, by Turnpike Bridge, a very rich rose-color large flowers, distinguished by its salver-shaped upper sheaths")

The grass is very green after the rains. . . See September 10, 1854 (". . .the first fall rains after the long drought.Already the grass both in meadows and on hills looks greener, and the whole landscape, this overcast rainy day, darker and more verdurous.")

A second spring... June. See October 23, 1853 ("Many phenomena re mind me that now is to some extent a second spring, — not only the new-springing and blossoming of flowers, but the peeping of the hylodes for some time, and the faint warbling of their spring notes by many birds. . . .") and note to October 10, 1856 ("Indian summer itself is a similar renewal of the year, with the faint warbling of birds and second blossoming of flowers.")