Pinch, punch, first of the month! It’s a tired old cliché but time really does fly and I can’t believe we’re already at the midpoint of the year. Here are a few things I’m looking forward to this June – the start of Summer for real (it certainly felt like it last week!) and the beginning of so much seasonal goodness to look forward to.
Celebrate Midsummer: Wednesday 21st June marks the Summer Solstice – officially the longest day of the year. It’s all downhill from here and, to quote many a Scottish Granny, the nights will be “fair drawin’ in” before we know it! Not really, to me it signals the start of long Summer nights where it’s light past 10 p.m. – glorious. Make like the Swedes and celebrate with the whole family, picking flowers, making wreathes, dancing, and enjoying seasonal fare.
Elderflower Foraging: The appearance of this ubiquitous, delicate frothy bloom heralds the start of Summer in foraging terms, bridging the gap between the now-tired Spring greens and the high Summer floral-and-berry-filled glut. I’ll be gathering enough for my staple cordial and experimenting with a new recipe I found recently for elderflower champagne, while leaving enough to develop into elderberries – my fave – come September… Yum!
Visit a Local Garden: Things are getting busy in the garden; when one bloom comes to the end of its season another is just beginning – as the lilacs fade the peonies burst into bloom. My favourite floral time of year as there’s just so much blooming, and still so much to look forward to. At weekends my dream day out involves a country garden and tearoom, while I love following tags like #wysteriahysteria and #hydrangeaallsummerlong on Instagram for my midweek floral fix in the meantime.
Grow Your Own: Continuing the botanical theme, after the Chelsea Flower Show (an annual must-watch for me since I watched it during exam study leave – old before my time!) I’m always itching to visit the garden centre. Dobbies Edinburgh was packed last weekend! For targeted tips visit your nearby independent garden centre and reap the rewards of local expertise and acclimatised plants to grow your own fruit and veg at home. I picked up some strawbs, tomatoes and a selection of herbs and am experimenting with a wee Dobbies plant shelter in our communal garden – more in my Instagram stories. Wish them luck!
Father’s Day: Treat Dads, Grandads and Father figures in your life on June 18th. Time is often the most precious and thoughtful of gifts to give, in my opinion – so invest some of yours in a homemade offering this Father’s Day. I shan’t reveal what mine will be as it would ruin the surprise!
Find a Local Festival or Show: Here in Edinburgh the June must-see is the Royal Highland Show, which I thoroughly enjoyed visiting last year and blogged about here. Keep your eyes peeled for local, seasonal events near you or if you can’t make it to that big festival further afield that you were itching to attend, why not make an at-home festival instead? Complete with your best festival attire, homemade treats, Pimms and a picnic blanket in your living room (or even garden if your wifi reaches that far!) – minus the mud and portaloo queues!
What are you looking forward to this June?