This year the summer solstice falls on today, June 20th, in the Northern Hemisphere. The longest day of the year. And the official start of Summer.

For me this day, the summer solstice, is always a mixed bag, emotionally.

On one hand, yes, it is the official start of Summer (which most of us in the Northern Hemisphere have probably considered, for all intents and purposes, to be already here for a month or longer). This is the time of outdoor cooking, lounging in the sun, warm days, pleasant evenings, water sports, vacation, iced noontime drinks, and come what may.

But it is also the day marking the steady decline of daylight hours as we move toward winter.

So at this time of year I often turn toward the garden, the vineyard and the orchards to review my perspective and reflect and contract my melancholy about the approaching winter with the bounty of new and growing life one may find there.

For those that find their homes in these places, this is still the start, the growing season, those times in the sun that will bring forth the culmination of their greatest efforts and, literally if you may pardon the pun, the fruits of their labors. So take a few minutes of your day, and turn with me to reflect, rejoice and renew our support of their current efforts, on this most memorial of yearly dates.