Charles E. Burchfield Journals, April 20, 1934

     The phenomenon of flowers, blooming on the south side of banks & hills, while snow and ice still remain on the north sides is a wonderful one to me – it is a miniature “ice-age” compressed into a few weeks [sic] time – 

     Out of the north from lowering skies falls whirling flakes of snow; falling among the dry leaves, where one hepaticas, snow-drops and crocuses – They come from the far north where there are deep ravines and dark pine recesses, & caves under overhanging slaty [sic] ledges, where lurks masses of greenish ice, seemingly centuries old; from them a cool breath proceeds into the cavernous hollows between the steep banks; a passing wind sweeps dry leaves from the top banks in a dizzy whirl, swaying the branches of the pines, these catch a stray glint from the pale March sun. The black shadows of pre-historic bear lurk under ledges, under pines, in the caves, under logs – From the remote sunlit world outside comes the mysterious call of a distant blue - bird - 

The beauty of hepaticas is almost agony – The exquisite shades of soft pink, lavender, and richer red-purple and blue violet, surrounded by the soft downy sepals & stems, have a fragile loveliness, among the harsh dry leaves of winter that evoke wistfully sad reveries

Before supper to Marcha’s to ask Edna to help with housecleaning next week – home across lots, a pleasant walk, the turf wet and cushion-like. In small grove of elms, a clump of pussywillows half out, a beautiful sight – a meadowlark song, and a few drops of rain fell slantingly in my face – 

All day at work on the Hollow picture –

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, April 20, 1934