Hello,
Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. Here in Seattle our days stretch to nearly 16 hours and dusk lingers until 10pm. They say, well at least Shakespeare said, Midsummer is filled with the stuff of magic — seasonal magic that sends me down a memory rabbit hole.
Remember summer? Lazy days and blue skies, plucking lawn daisies and making flower chains, trading genuine handwritten letters with my best friend, and snipping the spur tip off of a nasturtium bloom to suck the sweet nectar. An aside: the littles were visiting the other day and one of them asked if there were any “sugar flowers” in the garden yet — growing gardeners is good work. And of course, summer camp and crafts. What if we approached summer more like we once did?
Here’s a list of summer intentions to lighten the heaviness of our world:
Start a collection, I’m always adding to my stash of wishing rocks. We need wishes now more than ever.
Press flowers in a heavy book just for the delight of stumbling upon their fragile beauty at some point in the future. We need beauty.
Keep a scrapbook of special events - like that time last year when I saw the Northern lights. I plan to keep everything in a handmade zine, folding directions here - thanks Austin Kleon. We need to treasure memory
Go on a scavenger hunt. Five white rocks in our bathroom soap dish are remnants from my daughter’s birthday party scavenger hunt when she was 10 or so. Today’s she’s nearly 39. We need to hold small things with great heart
Look at the night sky. We need to activate awe.
Make lavender wands to share. We need the soothing influence of this sweet herb.
Collage a garden rainbow to celebrate Pride; it’s also a great way to keep track of what’s blooming at the same time for future reference. We need to hold respect for everyone.
Sleep outside. We need to feel morning dew and listen to the dawn chorus.
Think of 8 different ways to say PINK. We need to grow our command of language.
Explore plant-based anthotype prints. [[see below]] We need to keep making.
I’m not suggesting we completely abdicate adulthood — well, maybe just for an afternoon. Rest, then get back up. Joy is resistance. I’m so glad you’re here.
xo Lorene
Making Garden Anthotypes
Creating anthotypes is a novel way to record the season and the perfect summer craft — not to mention a welcome break from weeding and watering the garden. Think of it as a way to playfully capture and hold onto the sun beyond Labor Day. The process is easy and nontoxic, a great project to do with children, although you and they will need a measure of p…
a brief pause
I’m taking a week of rest but I’ll be back on the other side of a very busy week filled with a garden tour with 1,600 of my closest friends and neighbors all asking the same questions, hosting an event in said garden and, as I mention below, a lovely day trip to the Skagit Valley and a booking signing/painting demo. I’ll see you soon, but I’m thinking of you always.
Let’s Gather
On June 27, 2025, I’m having a casual painting demo and signing books at Christianson’s Nursery, and you’re invited. Stop by next Friday, between 1-3pm. You’ll find me in the thoroughly charming Primrose shop and I’d love to connect. I’m honored at the write up the nursery posted on their website:
Lorene is a celebrated voice in the world of gardening and mindfulness. Her work invites readers and nature lovers alike to slow down and observe the beauty of the natural world through a creative lens. Since 2018, she has been crafting daily color studies—capturing the subtle and striking hues found in leaves, petals, stones, and other small wonders—as a meditative practice in attention and presence.
From the Archives
Embracing Awkward
Hello, The house finches nesting in the front garden have fledged — much flapping of little wings and seeming chaos. Not unlike how a group of most young creatures look when they’re running in circles, only with birdsong.
Perhaps this is a good time to remind everyone that while I don’t paywall any of my posts, after four weeks everything gets stashed in the archives. However, paid subscribers have unlimited access to all content for as long as they continue to financially support this project, even if that’s only a month. If you enjoy my writing, and if you have the means to support my work, I hope you’ll upgrade to paid for $5 a month or $50 a year. Everyone, paid or not, has my deepest gratitude.
Color my World
‘Eustacia Vye’ is weary. Me too, only with a less elegant demeanor.
Another beginning. I’m rather new to growing pansies from seed but I’m thoroughly smitten. When I posted this color study to Notes, someone remarked that it looks like a summer sunset. Now I’m obsessed with the idea of identifying pansies by the time of day.
Another summer sunset fading into dusk.
‘Apricotta’ cosmos is the new It Girl in the garden this year. I love her so. Bring on the next three to four months of bouquets!!!
Once again it’s pea season. Once again I say: Fresh picked garden peas taste like a glass of cool water on a hot day.
Love your color studies and your wonderful suggestions!
I love the comparison of a pansy to a summer sunset!