Concord, Mass.
1909.
July 19 [July 19, 1909]
  Clear & cool with strong N.W. [Northwest] wind.
  I have been much on the river these past four days. Never
have I known it more attractive, at least in summer. The marshes
have not been flooded since April and there is the rankest possible growth
of vegetation everywhere, not as yet attacked by the hay makers nor
beaten down by wind or rain. The "blue-joint" (Phaleris) has attained
its full height (almost that of a tall man in places) and is in blossom.
The wild rice, too, is fully grown & very abundant, especially along the
shallow reach which I call Beaver Dam Rapid. It has fruited but the
grain is not yet ripe although the Blackbirds seem to be attacking it.
The expansion of the river in front of Balls Hill is lined on both
sides with a wide berth of pickerel weed in fullest flower. The rose
or pink-purple blossoms stand erect in solid ranks making a
great show. Just outside these float the water lilies flowering, in the
forenoon, a narrow band of pure white. They grow so near
together in places as to almost touch one another or so it seems
when they are viewed from a little distance. Along some of
the stretches Utricularia, now in fullest flower, forms narrow belts
of bright yellow. This too, is the season when the bird life
above this part of the river seems most abundant & interesting.
There are Swallows in swarms and Red-wings by hundreds,
skimming close over the water or rising with loud rustle of wings
from the beds of wide river & reeds. The Red-wings are singing
almost as fully & quite as joyfully as in June. Never at any
season have I heard so many Swamp Sparrows.  On my way to
Carlisle Bridge & back this afternoon there was seldom a full minute
when I did not hear at least one or two. Song Sparrows & Maryland
Yellow Throats were also singing delightfully but in less numbers.
I seen one or two Bitterns and Green Herons flying about or dipping
among the grass almost every time I look across from the cabins.