Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

flushed with a sense of full maturity a perfect balance. Then the scales tip ever so slightly towards the decadence. The grass on the lawns begin to burn; the trees have lost their freshness, the leaves dried and some already falling; weeds had begun to seed; finally one or two crickets lift a doubtful voice. A few others join them and encourage them and it is not long until the chorus going at full tilt. Now and then we hear a katy-did* by day but it is not until later that we will hear them in great numbers. Occasionally a large yellow winged grasshopper will zig zag up from our feet but not in great numbers.

Often I say to myself “This is the best time of the year.” I say it every day the year thru. And it is true. Every season is the best. I cannot concieve of a true lover of nature “dispising” winter but liking summer or vice versa.

*Not Katydids - but various kinds of short-horned grasshoppers.