Welcome to the first day of summer. The longest day of the year, the promise of those lazy, hazy crazy days of summer as so aptly put by Nat King Cole.

Summer solstice is rather bittersweet for this cold climate gardener. The days begin to get shorter now and it always seems to me they shorten more quickly than they lengthen through the Spring. Our growing season is so brief here on the Canadian Prairies. I have a picture on my camera from May 8th, with trees budding but not yet in leaf. By October 8th the trees may very well be dropping their leaves.

Everything happens so quickly; the apples, pears and plums looked glorious…for a couple of weeks. They’re now finished blooming and the fruits are developing but the fruits are wee and green and blend into the foliage. Lilacs are in bloom, those too will be finished shortly. Spring blooming perennials are finishing, summer bloomers are in bud.

It’s also a Full Moon tonight – the Strawberry Full Moon. According to a couple of sources, such as Space.com, the name was bestowed by Algonquin tribes because this was the time to be picking strawberries. The Algonquin tribes were definitely in a cold climate because the strawberries are just ripening here on the Prairies. Friends on the West Coast have been picking strawberries for three or four weeks now.

So, do enjoy the first day of summer. Go howl at the Full Moon. And do stop to smell the flowers while you can.