The fragrance of the arbutus is spicy and exquisite.

April 28th. [1851]

For a week we have found the trailing arbutus pretty abundant in the woods. A day or two since, Una found a few purple violets, and yesterday a dandelion in bloom. The fragrance of the arbutus is spicy and exquisite.

one of the most earnest snow-storms of the year

April 20th. [1851]

The children found Houstonias more than a week ago. There have been easterly wind, continual cloudiness, and occasional rain for a week. This morning opened with a great snow storm from the north-east, one of the most earnest snow-storms of the year, though rather more moist than in midwinter. The earth is entirely covered. Now, as the day advances towards noon, it shows some symptoms of turning to rain.

Frogs have been melodious for a fortnight

Wednesday, April 9th. [1851]

There was a great rain yesterday, wind from the south-east, and the last visible vestige of snow disappeared. It was a small patch near the summit of Bald Mountain, just on the upper verge of a grove of trees. I saw a slight remnant of it yesterday afternoon, but to-day it is quite gone. The grass comes up along the roadside and on favourable exposures, with a  sort of green blush. Frogs have been melodious for a fortnight, and the birds sing pleasantly.