Monday, June 21, 2010

Summer Solstice in my UTAH Garden


Summer Solstice...


arrived in This Grandmother's Garden at exactly 5:29 AM this morning.

There was a multitude of melodious birds 
jubilantly singing to welcome the new dawn 
and the beginning of our Summer.

The sun triumphantly peeked through the canyon door
as small patches of snow still adorn the high mountains.
There is great promise of a beautiful new day and a radiant 
Season of Summer.

♦ ♦ ♦

A major celestial event, 
the Summer Solstice results in the longest day 
and the shortest night of the year. 

Sol + stice derives from a combination of Latin words 
meaning "sun" + "to stand still." 
As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher 
until it seems to stand still in the sky.

 ♦ ♦ ♦

Summer Solstice is often called Midsummer 
as the farmer's crops were sown weeks ago 
and for them it is now mid-season.


Scott Carrier, Photographer

The Sun Tunnels, 
near the town of Lucin, Utah, 
were created by artist Nancy Holt 34 years ago.

"The tunnels — actually simple concrete drain pipes —
are aligned to channel the sun's rays 
at precise celestial moments."
 
Want to know more? 

Visit 

9 comments:

  1. Don't you just love it when the sun first peeks around? You live in a beautiful place - happy Summer to you!

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  2. I'd love to have spent summer solstice in Utah. Glorious! Thanks for visiting our hot and humid summer solstice in Virginia.

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  3. How striking those tunnels are, Carolyn!

    Happy (belated) Solstice to you. :)

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  4. Oh how I love the long days of summer near the Solstice!

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  5. That is a wonderful photo of the sun peeking over the mountains! It is both strange and lovely to be celebrating the opposite solstice events. Enjoy your long summer days!

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  6. It's so hard not to appreciate the sun as a gardener and especially in the beautiful lighting it provides at dawn and dusk. And then I remember how hot it gets in summer here in Texas. Yep, I'll be sweating by 8:30 this morning. Well, I'll just think about the beautiful sunrise...

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  7. It must be wonderful to see the sun rise over that high mountain. The sun tunnels look great too, like a modern Stonehenge.

    Thanks for your comment on my post and for giving me the opportunity to see your solstice too.

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  8. What a lovely solstice tribute. I'd love to see Nancy Holt's art piece in person. And thanks for the word derivation. -Jean

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  9. Thank you all for your comments!

    Heather, This is my favorite time of day! I feel very blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

    gcvhorticulture, I would imagine that Summer Solstice is beautiful just about anywhere.

    Meredith, Thank you!

    MSrobin, As do I!

    gippsland gardener,
    I feel the same!

    Meredith, I'm with you on the heat!
    I just get everything done in the early morning hours.

    chaiselounge, everyday I am thankful for those beautiful mountains... they lift my soul!

    Jean, thank you... I always appreciate your comments!

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