Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, May 4, 1943

May 4 – Tues.

South on Chestnut Ridge Road – and up over dirt road to Summit of Ridge, where I parked.
After lunch, a walk westward to a dark woods – a clear brisk day.

A beautiful woods, –  the forefront with  ancient white (?) pines – the land goes downward steadily, and soon many little ravines begin to appear, merged one into the other, and forming larger deeper ravines, which in turned, leading rapidly downwards, repeating the performance. There were many beeches here, the dead leaves of which, floating, or partially submerged in the little cataracts, were of a rich golden ochre and lightened & sienna color.

I explored until I could see the Boston road in the distance when I turned and retraced my course back to the car.

I then drove to Chestnut Ridge Park, where I admired the great quantities of dog-toothed violets.

Then to a swampy woods west of Orchard Park. (I forgot to mention that I had stopped here earlier in the day, looking for hepaticas to make a painting of.  – The hepaticas, however, in the woods, are long past their prime). This is a delightful place, with places, and little pools of clear, but brownish water, teeming with life. A few studies of water-striders.

Then home.

-Charles E. Burchfield, May 4, 1943