Summer Solstice

[Murfreesboro]

I just learned this evening that the summer solstice of 2016 is unusual, because it is coinciding with the full moon for the first time since 1967! They say this won't happen again until 2062. So if you get the chance, take a peek at the moon tonight.

The full moon of June is called the Strawberry Moon, because strawberries are in season right now. Sometimes it is also called the Honey Moon or the Mead Moon, because it hangs low in the sky and is yellowish in color as it is viewed through the thick, humid atmosphere.

[Andybev01]

I was born in 67 and if I live to 95, I will see it 3 times.

[Murfreesboro]

Reviving this old thread to wish everyone a happy first day of summer! We almost got another full moon solstice. I believe the moon is full tomorrow.

[Andybev01]

Happy solstice to all.

This summer is coming on fast.

We've had mild 60s and 70s but today begins a stretch of 80s and 90s!

[Murfreesboro]

After I posted here, I saw an article from npr that said yesterday was the earliest solstice in over 200 years. The last time it was that early, George Washington was president.

Yeah, we're getting hot, too. Mostly 90s around here for the last few days and the foreseeable future. The tomatoes like it.

[Andybev01]

The full moon woke me last night.

I sleep really lightly.

[Murfreesboro]

I forgot to look for it.

[MauEvig]

I just learned this evening that the summer solstice of 2016 is unusual, because it is coinciding with the full moon for the first time since 1967! They say this won't happen again until 2062. So if you get the chance, take a peek at the moon tonight.

The full moon of June is called the Strawberry Moon, because strawberries are in season right now. Sometimes it is also called the Honey Moon or the Mead Moon, because it hangs low in the sky and is yellowish in color as it is viewed through the thick, humid atmosphere.

I kind of wonder where they get some of the moon names from. Interesting. It makes sense since Strawberries are in season. There's a reason we have "June bearing" strawberries and "everbearing."

Well, with any luck, I'll be retired by then.

[Murfreesboro]

A lot of that info about moon names can be found in the Old Farmers Almanac. They don't always know where the names came from, and it can be a combo of European and Amerindian lore. But usually, as with the Strawberry Moon or the Harvest Moon, you can figure out a reasonable connection.

[Andybev01]

I love the Almanac.

I rarely miss buying them even if I never get around to reading it.

It's nice to see it, and ponder the obtents.

[MauEvig]

The Farmer's Almanac does have a lot of useful information, especially if you're into planting and such. I wouldn't say it's 100% accurate, but it's pretty good at predicting the average weather conditions for that month. But I wouldn't say it can predict weather each day like the weatherman can. Maybe I'm wrong about that.
I look them up online sometimes though.

Yeah summer is excruciatingly hot, that's true. But to me that's the best time to go swimming and enjoy ice cream and cold soda and such. It's also the best time for barbecues and roasting marshmallows. You also can't beat a fresh garden tomato. Those get a little harder to find after August. Although here in Virginia the growing season lasts longer, and sometimes we'll get warm days into September. Then October comes and it's hot in the afternoons and cool in the evenings. I suppose Fall and Spring have the most balanced weather. But this year, Summer couldn't have come sooner. It was cold for the first part of June!

[Andybev01]

We're hovering around 85° today, way too hot for me.

I do appreciate all seasons but like the memes say, 'sorry summer, I'm only using you to get to fall.'

[MauEvig]

It's kind of fun watching plants grow in the summer though. I especially get excited when vegetables start growing. Like, oh hey look I'm getting some tomatoes or peppers! And first the flowers show up.
I have some rather odd, and interesting gourds popping up too.
And honestly, fall kind of needs summer to flourish. Pumpkins and squash of all kinds require a good bit of rain and sunlight. If it's too cold, they die off. Frost in fall and spring will kill our plants off. So if we want pumpkins for Halloween, we need summer to make that happen.
Of course, warmer weather tends to stay longer here than it did in New York. Depending on how cold it gets, sometimes you have to cover your plants to get them to keep going.
But there are a few crops that do better in cooler weather.