A Soggy Solstice
The summer solstice is my favorite day of the year. I love the long hours of light, the lushness of the landscape, and the perfect summer weather of Maine in late June. I usually celebrate the solstice by spending as much of it as possible outdoors. When I was younger, I spent many summer solstices camping and hiking on the Maine coast at Acadia National Park. In more recent years, I have preferred to spend the solstice at home, on the deck and in the garden.
This year’s solstice has been a bit different, however, because it has been rainy and unseasonably cool. I can’t really complain because my garden could use a day of good soaking rain. But I needed to change my plans for a day spent mostly indoors, relaxing and catching up on some chores.
I did get out in the late morning to go to the farmers’ market and do some errands. In the mid-afternoon, a break in the rain provided an opportunity to go out and enjoy my rain-spangled plants.
Tomorrow the sun and I will both be up early, and I will be outside to enjoy the luxuriously long day and the return of beautiful Maine summer weather.
I am linking this post to Donna’s Seasonal Celebrations at Gardens Eye View.
Jean's Garden 
A beautiful rain-spangled solstice to kick off summer Jean…we had a few rain storms as well but it has been warm. 15 inches of rain in June so far…it rains almost everyday here….but my garden loves all the rain…of course the weeds do too! Happy Solstice and thanks for joining in to Seasonal Celebrations.
Donna, Wow, that’s a lot of rain! We’ve only had a little over 3″ of rain in June, and most of that has fallen in the past few days. We’ve been getting about 1 day with rain each week, and sometimes the rain falls during the night and it clears by morning (like Camelot 🙂 ). I hope you get some dry sunny days now that summer is officially here.
Here in Stuttgart, our solstice was the same — chilly, dark and rainy. Bummer. I’m hoping it will warm and brighten up later this week.
Cindy, I always find bad weather on the solstice more disappointing than that same weather on another day. I hope your weather has cleared and that you’re getting some dry, sunny summer days.
Flowers look all the more beautiful to me when they’re adorned with raindrops. Happy summer solstice Jean!
Your comment reminds me of the year when it poured on our college commencement ceremonies and everyone was feeling wet and miserable — until Sandra Day O’Connor got up to give the commencement address and began by saying, “I’m from the desert; we’re always happy to see rain.”
We take adequate moisture so much for granted in this part of the country. Sure, we get dry periods, even something that might be called a “drought,” but nothing like what you’ve been experiencing in the west.
Love your rain kissed flowers. Beautiful photos! And thank you for reminding me of one of the best vacations of my life—to Acadia National Park.
Jean, Isn’t Acadia a wonderful place? I haven’t been out there in quite a few years. Maybe I’ll plan a trip for early September. (I’m only about 3 1/2 hours away.)
Raindrops on Lady’s Mantle never gets old. Beautiful soaking rain Jean. I love these longer days. I may turn into a morning person yet! I used to love the Maine mornings but haven’t quite felt the same magic here in the village but I’m getting there. I look so forward to my new back porch drenched in sun mornings with the crystals casting rainbows and the birds singing through the screen door …
Kathy, I have always loved mornings, but there is something especially magical about Maine summer mornings. I have been eating breakfast on my new screened front porch and reveling in the light and the bird song.
That’s where you can find me too jean! On my back porch with the morning sun listening to the birds! Yes , I agree Maine is special especially the morning light
Jean, how I wish the summer solstice had brought zone 10 some rain. We’re in a bit of a deficit right now. Instead, it was an endless day of sun and heat — and with the longer day, I find myself outside working until about 9:00. (It’s still light at that time!)
I enjoyed seeing the drops on your plants — but my favorite is the puckered leaf of that hosta. Just lovely — one of the plants that I’m missing in South Florida.
Be well!
Kevin, We have been so lucky here with neither too much nor too little rain. I feel as though I’m living in the Goldilocks zone. One day a week with 1-2″ of rain and lots of dry sunshine in between those days is perfect. Sometimes our rain even falls mostly overnight and then it clears in the morning — just like Camelot!
Well, when it rains, take beautiful pictures of the water droplets! Well done.
Diane, I guess this is just another version of “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade!” 🙂
Such a lovely selection of colorful blooms and foliage and so beautifully photographed! The water droplets are wonderful!
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