Midsummer Magic
“What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfilment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade?”
Glorious June. Long drawn out days, short nights and joyful easy outdoor living - ‘perfect young summer’ as renowned plantswoman Gertrude Jekyll described it .
This month the new fresh colours of spring expand to the rainbow hues of summer and my dreams of sun drenched, flower filled gardens and lazy evenings lingering outdoors with bountiful food and drink come to fruition.
I’m so looking forward to June drifting in this year. To enjoying the warmth, golden light and a new colourful planting palette. I’m anticipating roses, lavender, foxgloves, lilies, salvias, peonies, geraniums, borage and clematis in the garden. All scent and blooms amongst the luminous leaves.
Not forgetting all the wildflowers at their peak out in the fields in June. Poppies, daisies, cornflowers, cow parsley, elderflowers, honeysuckle and wild dog roses.
Plus epicurean delights at the allotment, strawberries, broad beans, peas and tiny carrots.
I’m realistic about not having plain sailing weather all month. At the start of June we can often need persuading that it's actually summer! With a lingering chilliness and the odd wet day.
It's these cooler, moist days that give June its freshness and allow the grass, hedgerows and trees to retain their lush greenness, amongst the popping flower colours. I’m reassuring myself that the warm days are always nearby.
Then on 21 June KA-POW we reach another seasonal milestone - the solar pinnacle of the year.
On Wednesday the 21st of June the Northern Hemisphere is fully tilted towards the sun giving us the longest day of the year, in the UK. The sun rises before 5:00am and sets after 9:00pm giving us more than 16 hours of glorious daylight. This is The Summer Solstice. Or Litha.
Midsummer Magic
A few day days after the solstice on the 24 June, is Midsummers Day. Historically, Midsummer marks the midpoint of the growing season, halfway between planting and harvest.
The days between the Summer Solstice and Midsummer have been sacred to humans for hundreds of years. Pagan midsummer celebrations have been traced back to the Iron Age with carvings discovered of people worshipping the sun and giving thanks for its life-giving power.
In Celtic times, huge bonfires were lit to honour and celebrate the sun and its life giving effect on crops, livestock and those living on the land. Our ancestors celebrated by feasting, dancing, singing and preparing for the hot summer days ahead.
The word Midsummer conjures up visions of fairies and folk tales and this time of year is full of magical tales and myths. Traditionally thought to be when time when witches were active and fairies and spirits crossed more easily into the human world, so villagers busied themselves ‘setting the watch’ and building bonfires to keep evil spirits out of town.
Shakespeare’s famous play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ tells of the havoc wreaked when fairy folk create mischief this month.
Then there are tales of standing stones that move, witches transforming into elder trees, love charms, hidden treasure and men following ley lines to lead them back to safety.
Today, Midsummer merrymaking occurs around the world. Midsommar is a big celebration in Scandinavia. In Sweden feasting, flower crowns, singing and strawberry topped cakes feature heavily and in Finland visitors are welcomed by birch branches either side of front doors.
In Poland, single women throw flower garlands into the river at Midsummer to see which single man on the opposite bank catches theirs - you've guessed it that predicts who they'll marry. In Iran they celebrate Tirgan, bracelets are hand woven from rainbow coloured threads, worn for 10 days then thrown into the water along with a wish.
In China Midsummer is the time for celebrating feminine Yang energy with women giving each other fans.
Closer to home, crowds meet at Stonehenge to watch the sunrise through the stones on the solstice and in Cornwall fires are lit on the highest peaks on Midsummer Eve.
FOLKLORE: If it rains on Midsummer’s Eve, the filbert (hazelnut) crops will be spoiled while, fine weather on Midsummer Day portends a fruitful season.
The Flipside
Just as I’m getting used to the notion of summer, we reach Midsummer and the realisation hits that if these are the longest, lightest days of the year, then next week the days will start shortening!
Midsummer a timely reminder of the importance of noticing, appreciating and enjoying the magic of the season we’re in.
A prompt to get outdoors and enjoy this fleeting moment while it’s here.
Be reassured that although technically these are the longest days of the year, the shortening of days is not really felt until the end of August.
There's plenty of summer and the whole of High Summer left yet! Don’t let this spoil your enjoyment of the long Midsummer days - embrace them while they last!
What do you want to do with these long, bright days of Midsummer?
Herbs
Herbs were traditionally gathered at Midsummer when they were at their most potent. In fact Midsummer Eve was also known as Herb Evening.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines herbs as 'any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavouring, food, medicine, or perfume.'
Jekka McVicar’s more modern view is that 'all useful plants are herbs'.
These are the only plants our ancestors would have been interested in.
Collected herbs were hung up to dry for use later in the year.
Midsummer is a great time to harvest your own home grown herbs. Choose a dry sunny day when their aromatic oil content is at its peak.
This June is a perfect time to get outdoors, stop, look up and practise the art of noticing. A time to relax outdoors at a table laid with fresh white linen, cut flowers and lashings of tea and cake! To enjoy the colour while reflecting on the first half of the year and loosely planning the next.
I wish you a magical Midsummer and will be back with more Nature Noticing and seasonal highlights in July.
Further Reading…
Glorious June. The start of Summer. Long drawn out days, short nights and a joyful easy living feel to life. The new fresh colours of spring expand to the rainbow hues of summer and dreams of sun drenched, flower filled gardens and lazy evenings lingering outdoors, come to fruition.