Tiny Solstice Garden Tour

 

Tiny Solstice Garden Tour

My garden is lush and overflowing today but not anywhere near its peak, so it is hard to envision winter. And yet, we’ve reached the tipping point of light and darkness at summer solstice. The daylight hours will begin to fade now until yule. It will be almost imperceptible at first. Tipping points are often that way when we are not paying attention.

As I wandered through the garden this morning with that thought, it was obvious that many plants are at their own tipping points, just ready to burst into bloom or beginning to form fruit.

I am stopping for a moment to record pictures of Summer Solstice 2020. In trying to capture this flowing beauty, I am cognizant that moments later, things will have changed. Like all living things, gardens are in a constant state of flux. Plants are coming into their fullness and others are fading. So when you read this and view these pictures, life will have moved on. The garden will already be different.

But here are some images anyway.

This is a view of garden beds from my back patio. In the foreground is beebalm, just on the crest of flowering, along with arugula, tulsi, fennel, savory, and thyme. Behind that bed are strawberries, although cosmos have decided to make it their home as well. And behind that are the currant bushes, one purple and one white. Luna is sitting under the prayer flags.

My garden project to grow flax from seed and try my hand at turning it into fiber is unfolding. So far we’ve avoided the hail which could easily damage the tall spindly plants. Fingers crossed that I make it to the next phase which is harvesting and then fermenting, if I understand the process correctly.

 

I also planted potatoes for the first time in many years. It had been so easy to get organic potatoes at the store that I had moved on to rarer herbs and vegetables. However, COVID-19 made me rethink my garden plans. The potatoes are flowering and look beautiful. And the pollinators love them.

It is hard to name favorite garden plants because they all have their unique contributions. However, when I consider ease of growing compared to output, I think my currants cross the finish line way before anyone else. I have two currant bushes, one purple and one white. They are hearty and prolific. I am just eating the last of them from 2019 that were stored in my freezer. And as an added bonus, on the bush, they look like strings of translucent jewels.

Other plants that are shining stars right now are: comfrey, yarrow, butterfly weed, and Echinacea, just on the tipping point of flowering. And soon the tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers will be new stars, they just aren’t quite there yet. They are in a state of becoming.

 

 

That completes the tiny solstice garden tour.  It is hard to capture the energy of this space.

As you contemplate solstice, I hope you find time today to appreciate a garden or green space, hang out with plants, and enter the flowing energy all around us as we tip back toward winter.   Happy Solstice!