This time of year, Midsummer, the longest day of the year, I always think of Sweden.  Today, June 19th, is the big Midsummer celebration in Sweden, and I have heard from friends and family in Sweden as they prepare for the festivities.  For me there is no better place to be, but Oregon is a close second in a pinch.  This year Midsummer and Father’s Day fell on the same weekend, so I had to come to Oregon.  Oregon has been having an unusually dry and warm Spring.

My mother’s house with the hay ready for cutting

June is the month for flowers here.  It isn’t April showers that bring May flowers here, May is still too cold.  Today on the Oregon coast, sunrise is 5:23 and sunset is 9:10 pm, nearly 16 hours of daylight.

nasturiums

Even the frogs are pretty colors in the Spring

The hay, ready to cut, at sunset:

My mother planted Birch trees, another reminder of Sweden.  Their beautiful white bark and delicate green leaves make pretty bouquets at Midsummer.  When we were in Sweden, we stopped to pick 7 types of wild flowers, and of course sang Helan Går while sampling snaps to celebrate Midsummer.

http://www.swedishfood.com/songs

Birch tree bark

Birch leaves

Daisies in the field

Honeysuckle

Blondie