11: Winter Solstice in the Garden: Celebrating the Return of Light

Living in the Pacific Northwest has taught me to pay attention to the light, or really, the lack of it. Growing up in California, I had no idea how intensely the seasons could shift until I moved to Seattle, where dusk feels like it hits at 3:30 and some days the sun barely seems to come up at all. It took me years to adjust to the rhythm of it. As a gardener, so much of what we do is tied to the light. The winter solstice has become one of my favorite turning points of the year. It's the shortest day, yes, but it's also the moment when everything shifts. We stop moving away from summer and start building toward spring again. There is something celebratory about realizing that from here, the light starts coming back, even if it's just a few minutes at a time. 

This week, I'm talking about how I mark the winter solstice as a gardener and why I love these seasonal rhythms and the changing of seasons.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why the winter solstice is such a turning point for gardeners, marking the shift back toward spring
• Simple ways to celebrate solstice, from community walks to keeping your lights up a little longer than usual
• The connection between holiday lights, cultural traditions, and our need for brightness during the darkest time of year
• Why the change of seasons is my favorite, and how I like to slow down enough to really notice the changes

Resources:

• St. Edward State Park, Kenmore, WA

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If you loved this episode, make sure to subscribe and share it with a gardening friend. Until next time, I hope you find something in your garden to truly relish.