January-May 1896, Ranch Life (Martinez, California) Image 12

Thursday, February 27, 1896 Cloudy all day. bar. [barometer] falling slowly. Peaches coming into bloom also pears Some of the live & white oaks opening buds - One white-oak has leaves nearly unfolded must have buds close. One Agrifolia has set of new leaves dark purple & velvety - another has yellow green lvs [leaves]. Most still in bud X Wrote to Edwards, Valona - Farnsworth, Magee, Annie Hay, Libby, Bartola Friday 28 Warm. Somewhat cloudy - Saturday 29 Fine shower this morning - clear after 8 AM X Louie & Wanda gone to town SF [San Francisco] to hear [Paddyrosky] & a Frenchman play. Helen is rather lonesome. We took a walk to the heronry, saw about 30, many already sitting. The wind very high threatening to blow nests away out of the tall Sycamores wh [which] are just opening lvs [leaves] & hanging forth their strings of brown beads of flrs [flowers] - Leaves some of them nearly an inch long, very hairy, with [furry], brown male heads of velvety flrs [flowers] green, [ ] redish brown. X Wrote to Prof [Professor] Jordan declining to lecture before Academy of Sciences Also to Governor also sent Book & Bulletin to Miss Bartola. Wrote to Mr [Colrill] Sunday, March 1, 1896 Very cool. Had light shower of hail. X Helen and I made an excursion to the big Laurel, it has spread of almost 150 ft. [feet] has six trunks growing from old burned-out stump, tho [though] largest about 6 ft [foot] dia [diameter], these main trunks are being reinforced by six smaller ones - unwedgeable, illimitable in growth perhaps immortal - Young lvs [leaves] coming on live oak shoots 5 inches long grown in one week. One of the white-oaks in leaf the largest 1 inch long others not yet opened buds The rate of growth of the young shoots is wonderful X Mr George came today about Valona waterworks [vertical line] Monday 2 Dark rainy morning & cold quite cold.Danger of frost to fruit buds. Fair afternoon. Went to town to meet Louie & Wanda - who came home happy from hearing some fine music. X Mr Ipswitch paid interest on note $212 1/2 dollars Tuesday 3 Hills all white with snow & hail. Rain during the day Mt Diablo & the twin pks [peaks] have quite an wintery aspect. Of the lower hills it is curious to note how the north slopes are white down to their bases near sea-level while warmer slopes were bare up to 400 ft [feet]. Not because of sunshine on them but because of stored heat in the groundhttps://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/3428/thumbnail.jp