Summer Solstice is on June 21 and it marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The word ‘solstice’ is from Latin meaning ‘Sun Stands Still’ (sol=sun, sistit=stands). Since every day’s length is the same, it is on this day we have the longest time between sunrise and sunset and the shortest time between the sunset and sunrise.

Even the ancient monument Stonehenge in England was built to mark an annual calendar. One of the stones in particular, the heelstone, was aligned to demonstrate this day, the longest day, as the beginning of their new year.

What does this all really mean? It’s the first day of SUMMER! The beginning of dog days, warm weather, sunshine, and most importantly, lots of flower- growing time for all of us. Hooray!