When does summer begin for you?
June 1 is the beginning of meteorological summer. June 21 is the beginning of astronomical summer. Larry Weber, a naturalist up in Duluth, Minnesota that I follow, defines the beginning of summer as “when the open field flowers begin to outnumber the woodland flowers.” I like Larry’s definition the best, and have adopted it for myself, and I think I can even refine it further (for me personally) as when I first notice the musk thistles on the roadside. Today was the day. Happy First Day of Summer everyone!
musk thistle or nodding thistle (Carduus nutans)
I tend to go with June 1. As a child, summer began on the last day of school!
Hmmm, good question. I could make quite a list of suitable answers, but I think at the top of the list would be when I am forced to turn on the air conditioning! Not exactly magical, but it is what it is! Beautiful thistles, but wicked thorny!!