Summer Begins - Nature Rejoices

The Lady's Slipper is endangered in Nova Scotia. It can live up to 20 years. If the flower is picked, 
it will never flower again. I saw this rare flower on a recent bike ride.

While winter is a time for rest and contemplation, summer is a time of energy, growth and abundance. It is a time to rejoice in the green, growing natural world around us.

Today is the first full day of summer in my northern location. Nature is taking full advantage of the ample hours of sunlight that we have at Summer Solstice, and I am, too. 

Bunchberry is an early summer flower. Its bright red berries are edible, and are an important 
food source for wildlife.

I have been spending a lot of time outside hiking, biking, and photo taking in the woods around our home. After 3 years in our new location, there is still lots to explore.

Acacia Brook runs through the valley below us. My sit spot is on the bridge in the background. 

In southwest Nova Scotia the sun rose this morning at 5:29 am, and will set tonight at 9:15 pm. That is a stretch of glorious daylight 15 and a half hours long. Daytime at winter solstice here is an all too brief 8 hrs and 48 min long. 

That is one thing I like about living in a northern location on our tilted globe - 4 beautiful distinct seasons. I enjoy them all. But summer is the warmest, and that is nice after being cold for months on end.

I have been sharing my peanuts and sunflowers with this bold blue jay. These birds horde food, 
then have difficulty finding it later. This is just outside my kitchen window.

But right now, there is a lot of daylight (and warmth) to enjoy. It is a large energy input to nature, which responds with riotous growth. I can feel it, too. Now is a time for action. 

Everything rejoices. Summer is here.