The winter solstice, also known as midwinter, falls on the 21st of December this year. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it is the day where we experience the shortest day coupled with the longest night. For many ancient cultures and some modern, this was a time of celebration. It’s a time to welcome warmth and cheerfulness during a season that may feel cold and dreary.
My home state, California, is currently experiencing multiple wildfires. Additionally, at this time, there are wildfires burning in other states and even other countries. Regardless of how far you are from the actual fires, there is a possibility that some of the smoke may reach you. And you may not even see or smell smoke, but the particulate matter that is carried by the smoke can pose a health hazard. You may feel it in your eyes, sinuses or lungs.
Spring does not enter quietly. It’s as if all the seasons gathered together in a wavering crescendo of warm sunny days, blustery wind, rain, and even the occasional snow. It’s the final push before the new season emerges. We are shown glimpses of this in the garden. The plants and critters don’t need a calendar; they know that the seasons are shifting.
The garden appears dormant. It seems as if even the fairies have joined the seeds in their seasonal hibernation. If we go beyond what our eyes can see we will realize that the garden is teeming with activity right now. It is prepping for the big show, that which is the springtime. Right now the songs are being chosen, the sets prepped and the dances choreographed.
The calendar proclaims that winter is approaching. However, here in California, the weather still whispers autumn. The season of autumn, also known as fall, is synonymous with the vision of trees dropping their summer foliage. It’s during autumn that the leaves are abundant.
In the past, I have written about greenwashing. It’s a term that became common when the push for more environmentally friendly products came about. According to Dictionary.com, greenwashing is “a superficial or insincere display of concern for the environment that is shown by an organization”.
So I have a confession to make. And this isn’t one of my Time To Come Clean posts.
