Summer Radiance

By Erin Blank

Summer is ushered in by the solstice, occurring the evening of June 20 this year. This occasion has traditionally been marked with bonfires and is the perfect time for creative self-expression. This is the time of year when the sun reaches its greatest height, and we are filled with warmth and vitality. The seeds we planted in spring, whether tangible or metaphorical, have grown and will soon bear fruit. Abundance surrounds us this time of year, and whatever we are putting into our days will feed us when winter comes. Don’t let opportunity pass you by!

Summer offers a variety of fresh foods to choose from, and it’s an ideal time to shop at farmer’s markets or subscribe to a local CSA. Unlike other times of year when we might be working with little, you might find that summer can keep you busy just trying to put all the abundance to good use! When you inevitably find yourself with a hundred fresh tomatoes, why not host a salsa-making party with friends or family? We have an opportunity to preserve the summer abundance by filling the freezer, canning, dehydrating, and also sharing.

Children of all ages, and children at heart, delight in creek play. Skipping stones, sculpting with creek clay, and observing aquatic creatures offer plentiful natural learning opportunities.

If you live in a place with extremely hot temperatures, it can be helpful to plan your outdoor activities for the morning and evening times unless, of course, you plan to go swimming. Children of all ages, and children at heart, delight in creek play. Skipping stones, sculpting with creek clay, and observing aquatic creatures offer plentiful natural learning opportunities. The night air is often mild enough to enjoy nighttime activities throughout the season. Maybe you have fond memories of catching lightning bugs. Camping is a fun family tradition, and if you time it just right, you might even catch one of the annual meteor showers. The Perseids meteor shower is popularly viewed in mid-August, but stargazing can be wondrous on any night.

It is worth soaking up what matters and not taking this time with longer days for granted. Think about the seeds you planted in the spring of your life and the fruits that are ripening in summer.

The hot weather shifts our need away from heavier foods to those that are lighter and more hydrating. The fact that summer gifts us with watermelons, cucumbers, and juicy berries is an example of the wisdom of nature. A spear of cucumber in your water bottle can offer excellent hydration and keep you cooled off. A lemonade stand can be a fun learning experience for children. The flavor possibilities are endless when seasonal fruits, such as raspberries or blueberries, are added. Many of the plants that grow in summer are reaching their peak with the vital force working in the flowers and fruits. Now is an opportunity to enliven a home or office with fresh flower bouquets or press flowers for crafts later. Plantain is a common “weed” that most people can find in their yards, and this plant has a lot to offer us, as a cooling, drawing, vulnerary plant, it can be an ally in common summer scenarios, such as stings and splinters.

Many of the plants that grow in summer are reaching their peak with the vital force working in the flowers and fruits.

With summer providing such abundant vitality, it helps to be mindful about what we are spending this energy on before the slower half of the year comes back around. It is worth soaking up what matters and not taking this time with longer days for granted. Think about the seeds you planted in the spring of your life and the fruits that are ripening in summer. Continue watering what you plan to harvest when the time comes. Fill your cup this summer and let it warm you all year.