Summer And The Strawberry Moon

Today is the longest day of the year.

On the summer solstice, the Arctic circle is bathed in sunlight for a full 24 hours.

Which sounds prettier than it looks. 

That's how it looked up there at the North Pole on the first day of summer, 2010. 

Here, summer is more promising.

Summer is when dahlias hit their full stride.

Matilija poppies, the fried egg flower, love the summer heat. As old ones go to seed, new, leggy stems appear. They're all over the hills where I live right now.

But this year, I'm celebrating the strawberry moon.

Because for the first time in 70 years, the Strawberry Moon comes on the first day of summer. 

The Farmer's Almanac says the name comes from the belief that strawberry-picking season is at its peak during this time of the year. 

Tonight is the only night in the month when the moon is in the sky all evening long. Normally, throughout the June month, the moon shares some time with the daytime sky, according to Sky & Telescope.

 

So celebrating the first day of summer and the Strawberry Moon seems like a natural fit.

This morning I'll turn those beauties into wondrous concoctions.

Here's my breakfast -strawberries in balsamic syrup...

 

And for tonight's moon-watch, my favorite Strawberry Pavlova...

 

I'll still have enough leftover for strawberry ice cream, perfect for the dog days to come.

 

Wherever you may be, in whatever throes of life, I wish you 14.47 hours of happy today,

with a sweet side of strawberry shortcake.