Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, June 4, 1947

A beautiful clear morning—the sky cloudless—warm—the quietness—a faraway train whistle.

Started preliminary work on re-mounting the “Lilacs #2”

Afternoon—B & I to the woods at the juncture of Sharp St & Genesee Rds, north of Springville—(near the great Bog).

A fine woods, part of a pasture for a large herd of cows—many beautiful sturdy hemlocks, and patches of black “holes” under groups of hemlocks. Thousands of white (2 kinds) & purple violets, with strawberry,—fern young tender ferns—ponds with little “fairy groups of old moss-covered logs & fern grounds.

By a swift running stream—the water is clear but tinged with a transparent tobacco brown, which intensifies the colors of underneath plants. B—stretched out on her back on the warm earth—& I removed my shoes & socks. The delicious feel of the rank brown grass—It seemed as if I could feel the healing energy of the earth ascending my legs.

The heat of the sun, and the odors of rank swift growing vegetation almost sickening—The quality of this season is rankness. I think of the sour stems of Rhubarb, which we used to chew raw, & the bitter taste of calamus root—

Buttercups with unbelievably shiny petals—

Bobolinks.

We gathered poke-greens.

Sit awhile on a stump in a maple glade to feel the power & beauty of the day.

On our return—stopped at the swamp on Sibley Rd. but water too deep for exploring.

Evening—B & I for walk—stopped to look at Mart & Hank’s “garden,” & chat awhile in their apartment.

C brought home ice-cream which we ate in birch beer—

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals,June 4, 1947