Summer Solstice 2020

BLUE JAYS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

In under three hours (at 5:44 PM EDT) on this day of June 20, 2020, the the summer solstice will occur in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer solstice, also known as the June solstice occurs when the Sun reaches its highest and northernmost points in the sky. This event marks the start of summer in the northern half of the globe. (In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the opposite: the June solstice marks the start of winter, when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky.)

This date marks the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, "occurring when Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt (about 23.5 degrees) toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the calendar year. (By longest “day,” we mean the longest period of sunlight.) At the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at the most direct angle of the year."

It certainly is a hot last day of spring and a blue jay came to my garden to beat the heat in my "outdoor pool" as seen in the image atop this entry.

Summer Solstice 2019

The 2019 Summer Solstice began in this hemisphere in the wee hours of the morning (EST) today. It is the longest day of daylight, although in NYC we may not have too much of that given the heavy thunderstorms which are predicted to occur throughout the day. As I've mentioned here on Blogger in bygone years, I know professional gardeners who do not like this day because going forward, every subsequent day it will turn darker and darker at an earlier hour.

Therefore, they prefer the Winter Solstice, which is the darkest day of the year and every subsequent day it turns lighter and lighter at an earlier hour.

What are your thoughts on the Summer and Winter Solstice, dear reader?

Summer Solstice in the Western Hemisphere (For the Year 2018)

The 2018 Summer Solstice began in this hemisphere a few hours ago (EST). It is the longest day of daylight, as many of you realize.

I know professional gardeners who do not like this day because going forward, every subsequent day it will turn darker and darker at an earlier hour.

Therefore, they prefer the Winter Solstice, which is the darkest day of the year and every subsequent day it turns lighter and lighter at an earlier hour.

What are your thoughts on the Summer and Winter Solstice, dear reader?

Giverny in New York

Today, June 20, 2011, is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in terms of daylight, and the first day of summer. Although it would be lovely to ring in summer in Claude Monet's garden in Giverny, I am doing the next best thing: bringing Giverny to my urban terrace garden in New York City by planting Tropaelum majus (Nasturtium) , a plant that I have enjoyed over the years, but one that has not done well in my terrace garden.