Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, April 1, 1917

Day in Pinehollow & Bottoms sketching – A dreamy loose rainy day. Strange ochre & grey slow moving skies – the many birdsongs on all sides seem like rain drops already patting on the dry leaves.

In Pinehollow the day drowses – how a stray wind stirs a leaf at times in the lowest depths of the ravine

I knew it was noon when the birds songs ceased.

I was painting skunk cabbage flowers in the heavy heat haze – the honey bees  - the angry buzz when one was caught in the deep purple cave of the flower – it commenced to rain – it brought the dusk down – In the fading light I wandered along the Dutchman’s Hill hearing the bird songs in the rainy dusk – the rain ceased - & the dusk became deeper – all at once I found my first [hepatica] and rain commenced to patter on the leaves. I knelt down before the flower and thanked God for the miracle of the first Hepatica.

Walking homeward over the luminous dusky fields, with the rain full in my face – the moon shone forth, but the rains increased.  – if the moon shining on rain-drops should cause a rainbow, it would be a wreath of hepaticas.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, April 1, 1917