Charles Burchfield, Journals. April 24, 1939

Three days of warm, sunshiny weather – Growing things, held back by the unusually late season, seem to visibly grow before our eyes.

Monday had a strong cool wind all day – I cleaned up the front yard, trimmed the hedge etc –
Yesterday & today however, have been warmer, and with little wind – quiet drowsy days that find me unprepared as usual – all my painting ideas have dissolved into mist, my mind vegetates – 

The hepaticas have all opened out wide as if by magic – and I can do nothing with their incredible beauty except to gaze dumbly at them, and agonize because their season is so short; it seems I waited for months for them, and now that they are here, I find myself powerless to capture any of their beauty– 

Wide open, they turn their delicate “pastel” shaded blossoms to the hazy sun – The world becomes just them, and a vague horizon of soft steamy blue haze; the air is filled with the shill piping of toads and hylas –

Charles Burchfield, April 24, 1939