Flora in Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Journal
Dorothy’s Flora for November
pansies Viola tricolor— On 7 November 1801, Dorothy says “The pansies are full of flowers.”
Michelmas daisy Aster amellus—On 7 November 1800, Dorothy reports that “The Michaelmas daisy droops.”
ash Fraxinus excelsior—On 7 November 1800, Dorothy observes that “The Ashes opposite are green, all but one but they have lost many of their leaves.”
ash Fraxinus excelsior—On 8 November 1802, Dorothy comments in the midst of their writing “that the day was so delightful that it made my very heart hunger to be out of doors, & see & feel the beauty of Autumn in freedom.” She sees “The trees on the opposite side of the lake are of a yellow brown, but there are one or two trees opposite our windows (an ash tree, for instance) quite green, as in spring.”
ash Fraxinus excelsior—The next day, 8 November 1800, says “a whirlwind came and tossed about the leaves & tore of all the still green leaves of the Ashes.”
oak Quercus robur— On 8 November 1800, Dorothy notices how wintry the country is looking. She says: “ The country very wintry—some oaks quite bare—others more sheltered with a few green leaves, others with brown leavers—but the whole face of the country in a winter covering.”
orchard Pyrus malus— On 12 November 1801, Dorothy notes “The Lake beautiful from the Orchard.” We know there were apple and pear trees in the orchard.
oak Quercus robur— Dorothy reports on 15 November 1800, as they are walking to Churnmilk Force: “—the oaks brown in general but one that might be almost called
green—”
ash Fraxinus excelsior—On 16 November 1800, Dorothy observes as she walks to the Cottage beyond Mr Gells: “One beautiful ash tree sheltered with yellow leaves—one low one quite green—some low ashes green—”
oak Quercus robur— A couple of days later, on 17 November 1800, Dorothy notes that "the coppices a beautiful brown the oaks having a very fine leafy shade.”
birch Betula pendula— While walking in Easedale on17 November 1801, Dorothy recalls: “We stood a long time to look at the corner Birch tree, the wind was among the light thin twigs & they yielded to it this way & that.”
orchard Pyrus malus— On 21 November 1801, while William and May walk to the Swan with Mr Simpson, Dorothy “went into the orchard while they were out.”
ash Fraxinus excelsior— On 22 November 1801, returning from the Blacksmith by Butterlip How, Dorothy notices how spacious and beautiful the vale looks. She makes an interesting comment on the appearance of an ash tree: “the Cottages beautiful & quiet, we passed one near which stood a cropped ash with upright forked Branches like the Devils horns frightening a guilty conscience. We were happy & chearful when we came home—we went early to bed.”
orchard Pyrus malus— The weather must have been getting cooler. Dorothy notes, on 23 November 1801, “May & I sate in our cloaks upon the Bench in the Orchard.”
birch Betula pendula— A week later, 24 November 1801, Dorothy notices the same tree. “It was very windy & we heard the wind everywhere about us as we went along the Lane but the walls sheltered us—John Greens house looked pretty under Silver How—as we were going along we were stopped at once, at the distance of perhaps 50 yards from our favorite birch tree it was yielding to the gusty wind with all its tender twigs, the sun shone upon it & it glanced in the wind like a flying sunshiny shower— it was a tree in stem & shape & branches but it was like a spirit of Water—the sun went it & it resumed its purplish appearance the twigs still yielding to the wind but not so visibly to us. The other Birch trees that were near it looked bright & cheerful—But it was a Creature by its own self among them.”
butter flower Ranunculus repens— On 24 November 1801, Dorothy remembers “We came home over the stepping stone the Lakes was foamy with white waves. I saw a solitary butter flower in the wood.” It’s difficult to know which flower Dorothy was referring to. I wonder if anyone could like a “solitary butter flower in the wood” this November in 2017.
catkins Corylus avellana—On 24 November 1801, Dorothy says: “Catkins are coming out.” Perhaps Dorothy is referring to Hazel catkins. It would be a little early for them. I wonder if anyone can find catkins in Grasmere at this time of year in 2017.
palm trees [Arecaceae]— On 24 November 1801, Dorothy notes ”palm trees budding.” I suspect palm trees are not native to Grasmere. However, there must have been some growing there in 1801. Are there palm trees in Grasmere in 2017? What do their buds look like?
alder Alnus glutinosa— On 24 November 1801, Dorothy mentions “the alder with its plumb coloured buds.”
mosses Phylum Bryophyta —On 26 November 1801, Dorothy says: “We walked into Easedale to collect mosses & cream.” There are a variety of mosses that Dorothy could have collected. What kinds of mosses can you find?
tree [?]—On 30 November 1801, Dorothy says: “They have cropped the tree which overshadowed the gate beside that cottage on the turning of the hill which used to make a frame for Loughrigg Tarn & Windermere.” Can anyone locate this view? What tree could you suggest that this might have been?
