The beginning of June marks the beginning of the Summer Season when Mother Nature moves seamlessly from blossoming of seeds and buds to the full fruition of flowers, food and abundance in our gardens, hedgerows, fields, woodlands and wild places. It's the time when festivities focus on fertility and the life-giving powers of the Sun. 

June is perhaps the first time in the year when we feel the glorious heat of the Sun rising to its most highest point in the sky to bring sunshine for 16 hours of the day.

At the beginning of June, all the leaves have grown on the trees, enjoying their first flourish of growth. Early Summer leaves create beautiful canopies of dappled light in gardens, field edges, lanes and woodland paths. The silky soft downy leaves of Birch leaves and other newcomers dance at the slightest breeze bringing light, youthfulness and freshness to every natural scene. 

Spells of warm sunny weather are all that is needed to spur on the unfolding of life as Elderflowers glow with tiny cream flower buds and Honeysuckle flowers start to emerge in golden swirls, Thistles burst with magnificent purple flowers big enough for the Bees to dive in for its delicious nectar.

This is the time of year when you find many species of Moth, Butterfly, Sawfly, Beetle and other Caterpillars hatching and feeding ravenously on new plant growth. In the fields young Rabbits learn how to burrow and Leverets learn how to lie low in their shallow forms. Grasshoppers, Hoverflies, Cabbabe Whites forage for food while Kestrals and Hawks fly high panning the meadows on the look out for Field Voles running through tunnels in the fields. On the warmest days, Grass Snakes come out of hiding to sunbathe under the heat of the Sun.

June is bursting with delights. Especially all kinds of baby birds tweeting loudly from their nests built skillfully in bushes, tree canopies, roof eves and large cracks in walls. They call out for water and food while their parents dart diligently two and fro, collecting and distributing nourishment to their little ones throughout the day.

The breeding season is well under way which means millions of pairs of birds across fifty different species in the British Isles are foraging for food and caring for their young right now. It's a lovely sight to watch and a great way to relax in the energy of Nature's busiest season.

In the middle of the month of June, the Summer Solstice falls on the longest day of the year. Known as Midsummer. this joyous time of the year has been celebrated for thousands of years by the peoples of Pagan Europe who would light bonfires and dance all night on Midsummer’s Eve accompanied by the Druids. Customs included bonfire-jumping, with the highest jump believed to predict the height of the coming year’s crop. 

You can find gardening tips. vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts in season, and things to forage, in my Almanac for June (2023).

Poem for the month

Read or listen to my first poem - Welcome June - a celebration of Nature's 'opening up' as Spring comes into its own.

Recipe for the month

Soft fruits are a wonderful way to boost your daily intake of essential vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and other trace elements that help our bodies to remain fit and healthy. Try any one of my Super Fruit Smoothies to enjoy the fruits of the season - especially Watermelon which is the best way to keep your body hydrated on the hottest days.

Dates for Moon phases

New Strawberry Moon - Thursday 6 June

Full Strawberry Moon - Friday 21 June

Summer Solstice (Midsummer's Day)

Longest day of the year - Thursday 20 June

Times for Sunrise & Sunset (Devon)

First Dawn - 5.07 am

First Sunset - 9.19 pm

Last Dawn - 5.05 am

Last Sunset - 9.31 pm