Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Summer Solstice
The morning of the day of the summer solstice began around 5, when the early birds started to chirp. The birds, of course, have no use for silly human numbers, such as 5, attached to astronomical events. The sun rises when it rises - time to start singing - what are the numbers for? For better or worse, those of us humans who have to participate in the global economy today know what the numbers are for. That's why I got such a kick out of this story - modern-day Michigan Druids are having their solstice celebration on Saturday when they have more time. Meanwhile, back at Stonehenge, a few people showed up and had a little party. And our friends in the southern hemisphere are happily looking forward to more daylight.
Me, I'm going to check to see if the wild St. John's Wort is blooming, then contribute to the economy about half a day, and then observe the solstice from a place of quiet contemplation:
9 Comments:
The days are long here too. The birds start to sing around half past 4 in the morning and it gets dark around 10.30 at night. Not bad eh? ;-) Except for the early concert every morning. :-D
Wow, I think we here in the US don't often think of Europe as being that far north. 4:30 is a bit early even for me, and I'm a morning person.
My whip-or-wils sure noticed the solstice...they've awakened me the past 3 days at 5 am! Their call is pretty, but loud, and I am not a morning person...still, it beats waking up to traffic or people noise ANY day!
Lisa: I'm with you on nature's sounds as an alarm clock.
I plan to spend some time in contemplation tomorrow, in my hammock. I like to spend as much time as I can in the summer swinging in the hammock. It is so relaxing.
We're even farther south than you, Entangled, so have even less difference in day length.
Birds at 4:30?? Yipes! I am not a morning person~
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
You have a baroque place of contemplation. ;)
Love the hammock! The summer solstice always leaves me a bit sad ... the days become shorter and that means winter will be here. At least this passes in a flash because there is so much to be enjoyed from now till November.
Carol: Very relaxing! I would have done a lot more contemplation if I hadn't been asleep!
Annie: I don't usually hear the birds unless I'm already awake. The solstice was a rare cool and NOT humid day, and we had the windows open, and it seemed like the cardinals were exceptionally loud. My spouse sleeps through it all, always.
Ki: Too ornate? I thought the backyard could use some decorations. :-)
Kate: I don't like to think about the shortening days at the summer solstice, but I love to think about the lengthening days at the winter solstice. But it all balances out over the course of a year. I hate the short winter days, but I sure would miss the long summer ones.
Post a Comment
<< Tangled Branches: Cultivated, main page