Today is Beltane and Summer Begins.

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia), originally uploaded by donnallong.

Today is Beltane the traditional first day of summer in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

I think of it as the first day of summer here in Philadelphia, too. It just makes sense. Think about it.

The Summer Solstice occurs on June 21 or 22nd. By then the weather is already warm. The Solstice itself is the longest day of the year and after it the days have less daylight each day until the Winter Solstice, December 21 or 22 when the days grow longer.

So, the Summer Solstice is not the the beginning of summer but the mid-point. It is the apex of summer.

To me the the idea that summer begins at the Solstice is a symptom of the disconnect with the natural rhythms of the land and the Earth.

Have a Happy Summer!

Photo: Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia)

May 05 collage

May 05 collage, originally uploaded by donnallong.

I created this collage from photos of flowers (and a bird) that I took this afternoon in my garden.

The Blue Flag (Iris veriscolor) is a native plant of the wet areas of the Philadelphia area. It is naturally found along waterways and wetlands.

The rose (bottom left) is "Mary Rose", a David Austin English Rose. It will come down with Blackspot like it does every year. The blossoms are young and spotless right now. The rose can't take the humidity of our Philadelphia summers.

The Oakleaf Foamflower - Tiarella cordifolia var. Collina Oakleaf - (bottom right), blooms from May through September. The blooms are a delicate light pink.

The Mourning Dove eats the sunflower seeds in the platform feeder.  The Mourning Dove has muted and subdued elegant colors. It is not a flashy bird but is colorful just the same.

Removing English Ivy (Hedera helix L.)

On Saturday, we ripped out some problems at the local library garden. I belong to the garden friends. For the last two years we have eradicated invasive plants and planted native ones. 


We were joined on Saturday by thirty teenagers on a community service project. They did a fantastic job getting rid of the problem plant, English Ivy.


English Ivy was bought to North America by European settlers as a ornamental plant. It's native range includes Europe, western Asia and Northern Africa


It is invasive because it rapidly grows covering forest floors. By covering the floor, the plant blocks native species from growing. By this it disrupts ecosystems. 


English Ivy can also grow vertically and wind its way up through trees. It covers branches and smothers the trees, slowly killing the them.


When I was a little girl English Ivy covered the front of our house. Birds used to nest in the thick tendrils. I remember the smell. It was an unpleasant sharp smell, that rubbed off on your hands it you handled it. 


In a way I miss the Ivy. I liked the way the birds flew in and out of it.