The year is but a succession of days,
and I see that I could assign some office to each day
which, summed up, would be the history of the year.
Henry Thoreau, August 24, 1852
I have an appointment with spring. Journal, March 22, 1853:
So serene and joyful and expectant a mood. See September 2. 1856 ("It commonly chances that I make my most interesting botanical discoveries when I am in a thrilled and expectant mood.");
The now silvery willow catkins shine along the shore over the cold water. Journal, March 22, 1854:
See crows along the water's edge. What do they eat? See March 22, 1855 ("I have noticed crows in the meadows ever since they were first partially bare, three weeks ago.“); March 22, 1856 ("Many tracks of crows in snow along the edge of the open water against Merrick’s at Island. They thus visit the edge of water—this and brooks —before any ground is exposed. Is it for small shellfish?”) See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, the American Crow
See a small black duck with glass, — a dipper (?). See April 19, 1855 ("It has a moderate-sized black head and neck, a white breast, and seems dark-brown above, with a white spot on the side of the head, not reaching to the out side, from base of mandibles, and another, perhaps, on the end of the wing, with some black there. . . . Is it not a female of the buffle-headed or spirit duck?")
A concert of birds Journal, March 22, 1855:
I cross Fair Haven Pond, including the river, on the ice, and probably can for three or four days yet. See March 19, 1855 (".I am surprised to find that the river has not yet worn through Fair Haven Pond."); March 24, 1855 (" I crossed Fair Haven Pond yesterday, and could have crossed the channel there again."); March 28, 1855 ("The river has not yet quite worn its way through Fair Haven Pond, but probably will to-morrow."); March 29, 1855 ("Fair Haven Pond only just open over the channel of the river."); March 31, 1855 (" Looking from the Cliffs I see that Fair Haven Pond will open by day after to-morrow."); April 4, 1855 ("I am surprised to find Fair Haven Pond not yet fully open. There is a large mass of ice in the eastern bay, which will hardly melt to morrow.")
We strap some lumber to a sled and take it out to the fort this is not as easy and I bring the empty sled back and leave it on the trail as we decide to explore the northwest corner of our Land we work our way down the cliff and then further to the north on this flat spot that seems so perfect for walking and find a place where a hemlock has fallen and opens up the view the wind is blowing in the trees but it is a sunny and sheltered spot and we sit on the pine needles and Jane discovers life of various kinds turning green and starting to grow. Buda sits and looks over the edge wearing his green jacket the sunshine screens through the hemlock and we both take pictures of him from our own angles then walk south down the cliff and down the lane with the large trees into the wetland now easy to walk because of the ice to the old yellow birch which is our corner then walk back south and up the little ravine up to the top of the leek ledge clearing and eventually home.A cold and blustery day but the snow is perfectly frozen and easy to walk.Cold and blustery
but the snow is frozen
and easy to walk.
March 22, 2015
zphx
I thought I heard the hum of a bee, but perhaps it was a railroad whistle. Journal, March 22, 1856:
[Crows] visit the edge of water—this and brooks —before any ground is exposed. Is it for small shellfish? See March 22, 1855 ("I have noticed crows in the meadows ever since they were first partially bare, three weeks ago."); March 22, 1854 ("See crows along the water's edge. What do they eat?"). See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, the American Crow
The season is detected by the aspect of the clouds. Journal, March 22, 1858:
Launch my boat and row downstream. See March 22, 1854 ("Launch boat and paddle to Fair Haven. Still very cold") See also March 16, 1859 ("Launch my boat and sail to Ball's Hill. It is fine clear weather and a strong northwest wind"); March 17, 1857 ("Launch my boat."); March 19, 1855 ("Launch my boat."); April 19, 1858 ("Spend the day hunting for my boat, which was stolen.") and A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Boat in. Boat out.
Forty black ducks, pretty close together, sometimes apparently in close single lines. See March 22, 1854 ("Scare up my flock of black ducks and count forty together.")
Sheldrakes two by two. See March 5, 1857 ("I scare up six male sheldrakes, with their black heads, in the Assabet,—the first ducks I have seen"); March 16, 1855 ("Scare up two large ducks . . . I think it the goosander or sheldrake."); March 16, 1854 ("I see ducks afar, sailing on the meadow, leaving a long furrow in the water behind them."); March 16, 1860 ("Saw a flock of sheldrakes a hundred rods off, on the Great Meadows, mostly males with a few females, all intent on fishing.”) See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The Sheldrake (Merganser, Goosander)
They look bright-white, like snow on the dark-blue water. It is surprising how far they can be seen, how much light they reflect, and how conspicuous they are. See April 15, 1855 ("It is remarkable how much light those white gulls . . . absorb and reflect through that sombre atmosphere, — conspicuous almost as candles in the night."); March 29, 1854 ("A gull of pure white, - a wave of foam in the air.")
I hear the lively jingle of the hyemalis and the sweet notes of the tree sparrow,. . . There has been no sweeter warble than this of the tree sparrow as yet. See March 15, 1854 ("Hear on the alders by the river the lill lill lill lill of the first F. hyemalis, mingled with song sparrows and tree sparrows."); March 20, 1855 ("At my landing I hear the F. hyemalis, in company with a few tree sparrows."); March 20, 1858 ("The tree sparrow is perhaps the sweetest and most melodious warbler at present and for some days."); April 8, 1855 ("Also song sparrows and tree sparrows and F. hyemalis are heard in the yard. The fox-colored sparrow is also there. The tree sparrows have been very musical for several mornings, somewhat canary-like"); April 23, 1854 ("A rain is sure to bring the tree sparrow and hyemalis to the gardens"). See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, the Dark-eyed Junco; A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The Tree Sparrow
The air thickens as if it would rain . . It is a peculiarly still hour now, when the first drops of rain begin to be heard on the dry leaves around me. See July 16, 1852 ("This is a still thoughtful day, the air full of vapors which shade the earth, preparing rain for the morrow.")
The great scarlet oak has now lost almost every leaf, while the white oak near it still retains them. See October 26, 1858 ("The largest scarlet oak that I remember hereabouts stands by the penthorum pool in the Sleepy Hollow cemetery, and is now in its prime."); December 11, 1858 ("The large scarlet oak in the cemetery has leaves on the lower limbs near the trunk just like the large white oaks now."); January 19, 1859 {"Our largest scarlet oak (by the Hollow), some three feet diameter at three feet from ground, has more leaves than the large white oak close by.")
Colder yet, and a whitening of snow, some of it in the form of pellets, — like my pellet frost! - but melts about as fast as it falls. See December 14, 1859 ("Snow-storms might be classified. . . . there is the pellet or shot snow, which consists of little dry spherical pellets the size of robin-shot")
Fair Haven Pond was seen entirely open the 20th. Channel open, say 17th. See March 22, 1854 ("Fair Haven still covered and frozen anew in part. "); March 22, 1855 ("I cross Fair Haven Pond, including the river, on the ice, and probably can for three or four days yet."); See also March 20, 1858 ("Fair Haven is still closed."); March 21, 1859 (" Fair Haven Pond is only two thirds open. "); March 26, 1860 ("Fair Haven Pond may be open by the 20th of March, as this year, or not till April 13 as in '56, or twenty-three days later."); March 30, 1852 ("From the Cliffs I see that Fair Haven Pond is open over the channel of the river, - which is in fact thus only revealed, of the same width as elsewhere, running from the end of Baker's Wood to the point of the Island. The slight current there has worn away the ice. I never knew before exactly where the channel was . It is pretty central.") and A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Ice-Out
Sheldrakes two by two. See March 5, 1857 ("I scare up six male sheldrakes, with their black heads, in the Assabet,—the first ducks I have seen"); March 16, 1855 ("Scare up two large ducks . . . I think it the goosander or sheldrake."); March 16, 1854 ("I see ducks afar, sailing on the meadow, leaving a long furrow in the water behind them."); March 16, 1860 ("Saw a flock of sheldrakes a hundred rods off, on the Great Meadows, mostly males with a few females, all intent on fishing.”) See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The Sheldrake (Merganser, Goosander)
They look bright-white, like snow on the dark-blue water. It is surprising how far they can be seen, how much light they reflect, and how conspicuous they are. See April 15, 1855 ("It is remarkable how much light those white gulls . . . absorb and reflect through that sombre atmosphere, — conspicuous almost as candles in the night."); March 29, 1854 ("A gull of pure white, - a wave of foam in the air.")
The first drops of rain begin to be heard on the dry leaves around me. Journal, March 22, 1859:
I hear the lively jingle of the hyemalis and the sweet notes of the tree sparrow,. . . There has been no sweeter warble than this of the tree sparrow as yet. See March 15, 1854 ("Hear on the alders by the river the lill lill lill lill of the first F. hyemalis, mingled with song sparrows and tree sparrows."); March 20, 1855 ("At my landing I hear the F. hyemalis, in company with a few tree sparrows."); March 20, 1858 ("The tree sparrow is perhaps the sweetest and most melodious warbler at present and for some days."); April 8, 1855 ("Also song sparrows and tree sparrows and F. hyemalis are heard in the yard. The fox-colored sparrow is also there. The tree sparrows have been very musical for several mornings, somewhat canary-like"); April 23, 1854 ("A rain is sure to bring the tree sparrow and hyemalis to the gardens"). See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, the Dark-eyed Junco; A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The Tree Sparrow
The air thickens as if it would rain . . It is a peculiarly still hour now, when the first drops of rain begin to be heard on the dry leaves around me. See July 16, 1852 ("This is a still thoughtful day, the air full of vapors which shade the earth, preparing rain for the morrow.")
The great scarlet oak has now lost almost every leaf, while the white oak near it still retains them. See October 26, 1858 ("The largest scarlet oak that I remember hereabouts stands by the penthorum pool in the Sleepy Hollow cemetery, and is now in its prime."); December 11, 1858 ("The large scarlet oak in the cemetery has leaves on the lower limbs near the trunk just like the large white oaks now."); January 19, 1859 {"Our largest scarlet oak (by the Hollow), some three feet diameter at three feet from ground, has more leaves than the large white oak close by.")
The phenomena of an average March. Journal, March 22, 1860:
Colder yet, and a whitening of snow, some of it in the form of pellets, — like my pellet frost! - but melts about as fast as it falls. See December 14, 1859 ("Snow-storms might be classified. . . . there is the pellet or shot snow, which consists of little dry spherical pellets the size of robin-shot")
Fair Haven Pond was seen entirely open the 20th. Channel open, say 17th. See March 22, 1854 ("Fair Haven still covered and frozen anew in part. "); March 22, 1855 ("I cross Fair Haven Pond, including the river, on the ice, and probably can for three or four days yet."); See also March 20, 1858 ("Fair Haven is still closed."); March 21, 1859 (" Fair Haven Pond is only two thirds open. "); March 26, 1860 ("Fair Haven Pond may be open by the 20th of March, as this year, or not till April 13 as in '56, or twenty-three days later."); March 30, 1852 ("From the Cliffs I see that Fair Haven Pond is open over the channel of the river, - which is in fact thus only revealed, of the same width as elsewhere, running from the end of Baker's Wood to the point of the Island. The slight current there has worn away the ice. I never knew before exactly where the channel was . It is pretty central.") and A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, Ice-Out
The perla insects still about ice and water. See March 22, 1856 (" On water standing above the ice under a white maple, are many of those Perla (?) insects, with four wings, drowned, though it is all ice and snow around the country over. Do not see any flying, nor before this); See also March 17, 1858 ("As usual, I have seen for some weeks on the ice these peculiar (perla?) insects with long wings and two tails."); March 24, 1857 ("I see many of those narrow four-winged insects (perla?) of the ice now fluttering on the water like ephemerae. They have two pairs of wings indistinctly spotted dark and light.")
The phenomena of an average March. See March 22, 1853 ("I have an appointment with spring. She comes to the window to wake me") See also Walden (Spring)("I am on the alert for the first signs of spring ") and A Book of the Seasons by Henry Thoreau, Earliest signs of spring, a working checklist
There is an immense and wonderful tenacity of life. We are tempted to say that every organism, whether animal or vegetable, is contending for the possession of the planet, See Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species (published November 24,1859) ("While this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved according to the laws of growth, reproduction, inheritance, variation and natural selection.")
The tenacity of life, Journal, March 22, 1861:
There is an immense and wonderful tenacity of life. We are tempted to say that every organism, whether animal or vegetable, is contending for the possession of the planet, See Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species (published November 24,1859) ("While this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved according to the laws of growth, reproduction, inheritance, variation and natural selection.")
A driving northeast snow-storm. Journal, March 22 , 1861:
The Boston train due at 8.30 A..M. does not reach here till five this afternoon. See March 9, 1856 ("The train which should have got down last night did not arrive till this afternoon (Sunday), having stuck in a drift.")
March 22.
To see the day dawn
from some hill after so long
in winter quarters.
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 © 2009-2021
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