Watchers at the Pond (3)

Franklin Russell. New York: Time Incorporated. 1961.

Why read it? Describes the changes in the pond during the cycle of the seasons.

Sample quotes and ideas:

“The moon was now enormously white, creating filigreed light patterns that shone through the overhead leaf cover.” p. 158.

“The bursting green Volvox, the budding youngsters of the hydras, the endless division of amoebae and paramecia, all produced uncountable millions of new lives each day.” p. 162.

“The forest hummed softly with a legion of wings.” p. 169.

“The lungs of the pond were the leaves.” p. 170.

“Billions of leaves hung, rustled, whispered, gleamed and flickered.” p. 170.

“…thousands of breathing valves, or stomata, through which the leaf inhaled carbon dioxide and exhaled oxygen.” p. 171.

“The unwanted substance of this activity, oxygen, flooded over the pond and into the lungs and lives of all creatures in an invisible shower of water expelled by the leaves.” p. 171.

“In one summer, the trees would release more water than was contained in the pond.” p. 171.

“The pond’s surface was flatly gray, and its trees were stilled, waiting for the rain…no bird called; no life stirred.” p. 175.

To be continued.