Summer Solstice

June 19, 2020 by Team Journey North

Tomorrow is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Please report and share your daylight length and signs of the seasons. What changes have you noticed this past month?

"We started losing stars mid-April. We clearly started seeing objects on the horizon the first week of May. Soon we will be able to legally drive without headlights (civil twilight)." Submission by: Howard (Girdwood, AK; 05/20/2020)

Signs of Summer

Hot and humid weather, lush vegetation, and flourishing wildlife: summer is at the doorstep across North America. What are you observing? 

From Union, MO: Bill shared, "he [Indigo Bunting] is back for his 2pm feeding and I finally caught him with my camera. I do believe there are still two Buntings in the area." (06/02/2020)

From Newburgh, IN: Amy said, "the dahlias have started to bloom." (06/05/2020)

From Tulsa, OK: Holli noticed her, "first black swallowtail Caterpillar of the season on a fennel plant." (06/16/2020)

Report your Day Length (Photoperiod) and Your Sign of Summer

  • Step 1: Look up your sunrise/sunset for June 20 using Google or other internet search engines. 
  • Step 2: Calculate the length of time between sunrise and sunset. 
  • Step 3: Report your day length for June 20.
  • Step 4: Explore the sunlight map.
  • Step 5: Share and compare seasonal observations with people across North America.

 

Note: Summer is almost here and so is Pollinator Week. From June 22-28 and until August, Journey North will celebrate pollinators, specifically monarchs and hummingbirds. 

Read Pivotal Pollinators: Small in Size, Large in Impact to find out more about the importance of pollinators and why Journey North will celebrate Pollinator Week not just June 22-28 but all summer long.