January
January Thaw- This section is about the waking up of the earth in the spring. It describes the way that the animals are either happy about the coming of spring or sad. One running theme is the “freedom from want and fear”.
February
Good Oak- Such as the title would suggest this section is about a fallen oak tree in the forest. It talks about the way that the rings of a tree can be interpreted as the history of conservation. Being that the inner rings are historical dates of conservation and the outer rings being new events.
March
The Geese Return- With the return of geese we see the return of spring. This notion runs through the heart of this section. Leopold also uses this section to talk about how migrating geese have found connections between nations on this earth before the people of the earth did.
April
Come High Water- Flooding is the main topic in this section but yet there is so much more talked about. Leopold uses the notion of spring floods to talk about how we can find solitude and happiness when we are trapped in a place. He also talks about the effect that the floods have on animals in nature and the way that we have exacerbated these floods.
Draba- Draba is a poetic paragraph about the way that a flower blooms in the springtime.
Bur Oak- In the month of April the Midwest sees the highest concentration of prairie fires and that is where the bur oak comes in. This section talks about the resilience of the bur oak, being the only tree that can survive during a fire.
Sky Dance- This section is devoted to the mating dance of a woodcock.
May
Back from the Argentine- The upland plover of Wisconsin is the last piece of spring according to Leopold. This section talks about the eventual protection of this great vegetation.
June
The Alder Fork- In this section the topic of fishing is discussed in respect to the alder bush and the difficulties it poses. Although it reads as another fish tale it does not end quite the same.
July
Great Possession- Great possessions talks about the difference between Leopold's land and the creatures that inhabit it. He describes the animals as his precious possessions and that they are much more important than the acres of land that he owns.
Prairie Birthday- The plants within an area are immensely disturbed by the activities that humans take on. This idea is investigated in Prairie Birthday because of the farming activities in Wisconsin. Leopold is setting this against a flower that he views in a graveyard.
August
The Green Pasture- With the summer months comes a decrease in the flow of the rivers which leaves behind shorelines of rich soil. The shorelines become works of art to Leopold, with the great diversity of vegetation that grows in them. Also mentioned is the idea of temporality in connection with the temporary deposits of soil.
September
The Coral Copse- Copse: A small group of trees. The coral copse is a reference to the grouping of pine trees that Leopold is viewing. A bird song is one of mystery and beauty to him and he talks about how these songs change with the seasons in this section.
October
Smoky Gold- The color of tamaracks in the fall months leads to the title of this section; in which Leopold is speaking about a hunt that he went on for ruffed Grouse. He also talks about the ways that the birds become confused by the environment around them.
Too Early- In contrast with the title of the section, too early talks about the amazing sights and sounds a person can experience when waking before daybreak.
Red Lanterns- The red lanterns which are being talked about are the leaves of the blackberry bush. These red lanterns are guiding points for the hunter of ground birds when in a berry patch. Leopold also talks about the feelings that surface during a pheasant hunt in fall.
November
If I Were the Wind- Just as in the way that the geese return in March, they leave in November. This section talks about the views of landscape in the late fall months. The big factor the Leopold uses to bring in a mental image is the cold wind of fall.
Axe-In-Hand- This section is about the use of tools and the way that humans view trees. One of the major threads of this chapter is the idea of the shovel being a giver, and the axe being a taker. Plant selection is also used to demonstrate our unwillingness to change from tradition.
A Mighty Fortress- The fortress that Leopold is talking about in this section in the tangle of fallen trees in woodland. He discuss the way that these dead trees eventually become part of living animals and the way that humans clear dead trees to the detriment of woodland creatures.
December
Home Range- Within this section the use of a home range for both humans and animals is discussed. The way that animals use their homeland and their actions inside and outside of that area tell a lot about the species.
Pines Above The Snow- This section is about the likeness of pines to sacred objects. Leopold suggests that anyone who plants a pine can be put on the same level as gods. He also touches upon the way that pines tell different stories throughout the seasons.
65290- This section is about Leopold’s love of birds and the way that chickadees are banded and released. The number refers to the only chickadee banded to ever survive five winters.
January Thaw- This section is about the waking up of the earth in the spring. It describes the way that the animals are either happy about the coming of spring or sad. One running theme is the “freedom from want and fear”.
February
Good Oak- Such as the title would suggest this section is about a fallen oak tree in the forest. It talks about the way that the rings of a tree can be interpreted as the history of conservation. Being that the inner rings are historical dates of conservation and the outer rings being new events.
March
The Geese Return- With the return of geese we see the return of spring. This notion runs through the heart of this section. Leopold also uses this section to talk about how migrating geese have found connections between nations on this earth before the people of the earth did.
April
Come High Water- Flooding is the main topic in this section but yet there is so much more talked about. Leopold uses the notion of spring floods to talk about how we can find solitude and happiness when we are trapped in a place. He also talks about the effect that the floods have on animals in nature and the way that we have exacerbated these floods.
Draba- Draba is a poetic paragraph about the way that a flower blooms in the springtime.
Bur Oak- In the month of April the Midwest sees the highest concentration of prairie fires and that is where the bur oak comes in. This section talks about the resilience of the bur oak, being the only tree that can survive during a fire.
Sky Dance- This section is devoted to the mating dance of a woodcock.
May
Back from the Argentine- The upland plover of Wisconsin is the last piece of spring according to Leopold. This section talks about the eventual protection of this great vegetation.
June
The Alder Fork- In this section the topic of fishing is discussed in respect to the alder bush and the difficulties it poses. Although it reads as another fish tale it does not end quite the same.
July
Great Possession- Great possessions talks about the difference between Leopold's land and the creatures that inhabit it. He describes the animals as his precious possessions and that they are much more important than the acres of land that he owns.
Prairie Birthday- The plants within an area are immensely disturbed by the activities that humans take on. This idea is investigated in Prairie Birthday because of the farming activities in Wisconsin. Leopold is setting this against a flower that he views in a graveyard.
August
The Green Pasture- With the summer months comes a decrease in the flow of the rivers which leaves behind shorelines of rich soil. The shorelines become works of art to Leopold, with the great diversity of vegetation that grows in them. Also mentioned is the idea of temporality in connection with the temporary deposits of soil.
September
The Coral Copse- Copse: A small group of trees. The coral copse is a reference to the grouping of pine trees that Leopold is viewing. A bird song is one of mystery and beauty to him and he talks about how these songs change with the seasons in this section.
October
Smoky Gold- The color of tamaracks in the fall months leads to the title of this section; in which Leopold is speaking about a hunt that he went on for ruffed Grouse. He also talks about the ways that the birds become confused by the environment around them.
Too Early- In contrast with the title of the section, too early talks about the amazing sights and sounds a person can experience when waking before daybreak.
Red Lanterns- The red lanterns which are being talked about are the leaves of the blackberry bush. These red lanterns are guiding points for the hunter of ground birds when in a berry patch. Leopold also talks about the feelings that surface during a pheasant hunt in fall.
November
If I Were the Wind- Just as in the way that the geese return in March, they leave in November. This section talks about the views of landscape in the late fall months. The big factor the Leopold uses to bring in a mental image is the cold wind of fall.
Axe-In-Hand- This section is about the use of tools and the way that humans view trees. One of the major threads of this chapter is the idea of the shovel being a giver, and the axe being a taker. Plant selection is also used to demonstrate our unwillingness to change from tradition.
A Mighty Fortress- The fortress that Leopold is talking about in this section in the tangle of fallen trees in woodland. He discuss the way that these dead trees eventually become part of living animals and the way that humans clear dead trees to the detriment of woodland creatures.
December
Home Range- Within this section the use of a home range for both humans and animals is discussed. The way that animals use their homeland and their actions inside and outside of that area tell a lot about the species.
Pines Above The Snow- This section is about the likeness of pines to sacred objects. Leopold suggests that anyone who plants a pine can be put on the same level as gods. He also touches upon the way that pines tell different stories throughout the seasons.
65290- This section is about Leopold’s love of birds and the way that chickadees are banded and released. The number refers to the only chickadee banded to ever survive five winters.
By: Hanna Gold, Douglas Reymore, Isaac Knipfing, Sarah Irish, Joshua White, Eric Lynch