Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, June 20, 1914

Day spent in 30 mile tramp. Northwestwards with Fred. To Benton to Deerfield to Berlin Center & home by Goshen road.

Time spent in whistling & talking and so I bring home few specific observations.

June is perfection - the pulse of nature is throbbing full and fast. Senility is far away and is not thought of.

Road in many places in the ditches aglow with the yellow of moneywort. Less plentiful but more conspicuous are various species of St. John’s Wort. Yarrow is whitening.

An expression of June - common white daisies which spot the road here and there all along but in one place an old deserted orchard we found a colony of them. They made us pause & exclaim. The white clouds in the sky are but their dim reflection.  I wondered why a bobolink did not come up from their mist and sing.

Wheat is ripening and the winded rattles finely that their drying seedheads sounding like a shower of sleet in winter.

The clouds of June are one of its characteristics. Today’s were typical. Pure white and spun by the wind into long streamers a scene for a picture. - The clouds in fine lines sweeping upwards diagonally in front of the sun, which sparkles white thru the leaves of an elm. A large ring around the sun, lending wierd beauty to it. The ring pale yellow on inside and white outside. Sky on inside just next to circle seemed darker.

Birdsongs predominating. Bobolink, songsparrow, Meadowlark & Bob-white.

Occasional - Thrasher, Yellow- bird.

The sight of cherry laden trees against blue sky a fine one.

Wild strawberries along the way.

Fields of buttercups. Ajax Swallowtail.

The roads out this way are idealistic - being lined with countless elms.

Charles E. Burchfield, June 20, 1914