I’m not sure why these pictures seemed suitable for a solstice celebration. Perhaps it’s the mix of sunlight and shade. Perhaps the primulas’ centres remind me of the sun.
While I love having four very distinct seasons and don’t favour one more than any of the others, I have a decided preference for bright nights. In Darwen, where I live, the sun rose today at 04.40 and will set at 21.42, giving a day length of 17 hrs and 2 minutes. You can compare your current day length here.
That seems a good reason to celebrate, even when I know the natural trajectory.
Happy Summer Solstice!
Shared for Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Susan Rushton 
A lovely floral celebration. Bittersweet, today, because from now on, the days become shorter. Booh!
The shortest day is always a shock – and here we are a week later, having ‘lost’ three minutes!
I know. Grrrrrr.
And happy summer solstice to you, too.
Thanks belatedly, Steve.
I wish summer was longer. But I’ll take what we get and try to enjoy every minute of it.
I can salute that idea.
Happy Winter Solstice from me. 12hrs sunlight but I get less living in the bush. The trees get first dibs 🙂
12 hours seems a lot. I thought you got around 10 hours in midwinter. What I hate most is that it gets dark so early. I dread winter.
I guess it is more 10 hours. I thought the sun rose earlier
Your trees will have been much alarmed to think you were accusing them of stealing two hours of daylight from you. Luckily Jude has set you to rights.
👍😁
It was especially challenging last winter when so many people had to be wary of using too much power.
Perfect for the summer solstice! My gardens are still mostly green, but I did notice a burst of yellow. I, too, love all four seasons, but I also have a love of long days. June 21 is also special as it is the anniversary of my mother’s birthday. She would have been 87 today. I always think of her as la reine de Juin. Such a lovely day to have a birthday.
The Queen of June is a lovely way to think of her.
In SC, June 21st is typically the start of two months of unbearably hot and humid weather, so it’s my least favorite time for gardening. Today is cool and wet, however, so no complaints. My plan is to escape soon to Cornwall to enjoy some of your lovely summer days and an array of gardens that aren’t fried to a crisp. Happy Summer Solstice!
Lovely to hear from you. I hope you’ll have a wonderful trip. I dare say you have the best itinerary planned!
They are lovely, Susan
Thanks, Derrick.
Long days are such a luxury, aren’t they? I much prefer them to the length on the other end of the spectrum!
They are.
Beautiful.
Thank you!
I love the brighter days too, although at this time of year in London ours are just a tiny bit shorter than yours further north (but in the winter we’ll win out with a fraction more daylight!)
You certainly will. I’ve always been curious to know what it must be like to experience midnight sun and polar night. The latter would need some adjustment.
I experienced midnight sun (or at least daylight) recently on my trip to Norway. It’s strange – I looked out of the window when i got up in the night, around 3.00 AM, and it looked like day time. And leaving a bar at 11.00 PM or so and walking back to the hotel in broad daylight was also weird. You need thick blinds or curtains!
That must have been an amazing trip.
It was!
16hr 24mins for us. If only it could be like this all year round. I loathe those early dark evenings. But for now and the next 3 months I shall enjoy the light. Your candelabras are beautiful.
They’re always a challenge to photograph – for every decent picture I have so many misses.
These are so pretty Susan, and you have such a lovely mix of colours. Yes, they are summery. Happy summer solstice!
Thank you!