Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, May 11, 1922

(After Charles and Bertha Burchfield were married on May 20, 1922, they lived a short while at 170 Mariner Street in Buffalo, until they found a new apartment on Franklin Street in June. Earlier, Charles made drawings for their wedding announcement & drawings of pink-hawthorn.)
                                                                   May 11 — 1922 —
           It is May!  The buckeye trees are almost fully out, and hang loosely with great masses of vivid emerald foliage — there is nothing to equal this brilliant color of green — the sun shines on it in a subdued silvery highlight & the partly cloudy sky beyond is composed of pale violets — a cool breeze comes out of the sunlit south — Maple trees are speckled with twin leaves that form horizontal dashes across their branches — The shadows under porches suddenly become intensified & full of poetry — It is the kind of day that should have its lawnmower  going.
           At evening to my new quarters — to the place where Bertha & I will start life together — Mariner street is lined with buckeyes & elms, and I felt a wave of joyousness come over me as I walked up under those brilliant green trees, splotched with yellow in the late afternoon sunlight —
           These two small rooms are my first home — their humble character seems fitting to me, as we should start life humbly, and not like a circus parade — they are glorified to me, and already I feel the presence of “her,” who is to come to live with me.  So much so that I feel as if even now before her arrival, there must be no evil thoughts to destroy the sacredness of the place.
           There are windows that face in all directions — East, South, West, Northwest, North & Northeast.  Each window has a different story to tell in the view of its groups of trees & houses, & outlooks to the sky.  Out of the west window tonight I saw a peculiar maple tree full of brilliant yellow green bloom, lit up by the sunlight.
Charles E. Burchfield, May 11, 1922