I’ve always found a calendar to be an annoying beggar of my time.
While a necessity in daily life, as someone who spends much of his time outdoors, I prefer the timetable of the seasons.
Nothing in nature seems so pressing as to be planned by the day and the hour.
But there are milestones, and one is coming up on June 20 when the northern half of the Earth tilts toward the sun.
It’s called the summer solstice and marks the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year here in our northern latitude.
The Kumeyaay people recognized the summer solstice, known as Hilyati, as the zenith of summer and a time of abundance, growth, and new beginnings. It’s a time of heightened solar energy, representing vitality, power and connection with the natural world.
For many today, it’s also a time of freedom when kids are out of school, vacations are planned, and longer days and warm nights give us time to soak in the natural wonders that surround us.
We simply need to take time and go.
The summer solstice marks the beginning of prime time for birds, butterflies and beautiful nights filled with stars not visible during winter months.
The hooded orioles have already arrived to spend the summer, and the black-headed grosbeaks are beginning to show up at local seed feeders.
Wandering tattlers, the ruddy turnstone and a variety of other summer migrants will be found on our local beaches.
It’s a special time for youngsters to explore the outdoors, where even backyard gardens or urban trails can provide hours of discovery as butterflies, tree frogs, dragonflies, bird and animal babies, and wildflowers bring vitality to the environment.
Monarch, swallowtail, buckeye, red iral and painted lady butterflies will bring even more color to blooming flowers and trees.
Ponds are always an exciting place for summer nature discovery, with a variety of dragonflies, tadpoles, frogs, ducks, red-winged blackbirds and insect-feeding birds.
The observant nature lover should also be alert to bird nests and listen for the sounds of hungry chicks demanding food as they prepare to fledge.
Longer days mean time to visit more distant places such as beach parks, inland reserves, the mountain trails in Cleveland National Forest, Cuyamaca Rancho or Palomar Mountain state parks.
These beautiful areas sit at higher elevations and even now host magnificent displays of blooming wildflowers nurtured by the moisture from foggy nights.
The winding roads up Palomar Mountain are lined with clusters of the sweetly fragrant grape soda lupine, yellow monkey flowers and deep purple phacelia.
Warmer days are an inviting time to find a beautiful place in nature to engage in sit-and-see adventures.
It’s easy to do, with no special equipment required.
Simply sit quietly and observe. Soon nature’s creatures forget you are there and return to their daily activities.
You may be surprised at what you missed hiking through an oak woodland or even an open, grassy meadow.
I sat down at the edge of a spring meadow with knee-high grass and after a half-hour watched a deer rise from the grass and go about feeding. The doe was probably resting there as I ed and simply remained still.
Meadowlarks that fluttered away when I approached, returned to feed and fill the forest with their melodic flute-like songs.
You would likely never see a praying mantis while walking through a summer garden, but sit quietly and watch, and you may spot one of these fascinating creatures feeding on a lantana or other shady, dense plants growing low to the ground.
On warm summer evenings your patio may come alive with the powerful croaking of tree frogs that enjoy the moist and protective habitat of potted succulents. It’s amazing how loud these tiny, 1-inch frogs can be.
There are other sights and sounds to discover on summer nights.
Listen for the screech of the barn owl, the hoot of the great-horned owl or the yips, barks and howls of coyotes. Crickets and frogs and the plaintive call of the poorwill can also add intrigue to the darkness.
Explore the outdoors at night with an ultraviolet flashlight and you might discover rocks that glow or scorpions that turn bright green. Be sure to wear protective glasses and avoid looking directly at the UV light.
Warm summer evenings are a good time to discover the wonders of the night sky.
The Milky Way, that band of clustered stars that is the dense rim of our spiral galaxy, fills the summer night sky and is best viewed from areas away from the glow of urban lights.
Sadly, there are urban dwellers who have never been to a dark sky location to experience the wonder of gazing into the star-filled heavens, pick out a constellation or marvel at the rings of Saturn through a simple telescope.
Thankfully, you don’t have to go far to do this.
Pick a moonless night and drive east into the wild areas of the county. It can be a profound experience.
There is something powerfully spiritual about the vast night sky and all that it holds. Who can gaze into that great expanse and not contemplate such things as infinity or Earth’s relevance to the cosmos?
The summer solstice marks the beginning of a special time to be out in nature, and you should not miss the opportunity.
Put it on your calendar.
Cowan is a freelance columnist. Email [email protected] or visit erniesoutdoors.blogspot.com.
