Winter solstice has passed

[Serial_Apologist]

I like this time of the year,
I like the autumn
I don't "look forward" to the summer in the way that so many seem to
Roll on the bleak snow

There's nothing more beautiful on a clear December day than to see the low-angled sun catch bare tree trunks and branches. Various varieties of willow and dogwood with vivid orange, red or yellow stems, are cultivated for mass planting to give this effect to maximum advantage at this time of the year, which can appear to shimmer when viewed at a certain distance. Berries give their best display at this time of the year, before the birds have most of them. Some prunus trees and shrubs blossom at this time: a viburnum is presently flowing copiously in the garden here, giving off a sweet honeyed scent. Things only start looking drab by late January, the sun's angle being higher; but by that time one is starting to see crocus and snowdrop, and the first birdsong is only a short time ahead.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Our 2nd week touring in New Zealand. Summer has now taken off with long, sunny and warm days. Christmas seems a low key affair here. But I suppose if we had the summer, the mountains, lakes and coast it wouldn't consume as much attention either.
But we will be back mid January for a dose of proper, character forming Winter weather.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Forget Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’. I’m working on a composition called ‘The Two Seasons: Rise and Fall’. There’s no agreement on the dates of the traditional four. Solstice-equinox-solstice-equinox, or 1 March-1 June-1 Sept-1Dec.

[vinteuil]

There’s no agreement on the dates of the traditional four. Solstice-equinox-solstice-equinox, or 1 March - 1 June - 1 Sept - 1 Dec.

.
...I think there is agreement, of sorts : astronomers use the former, meteorologists use the latter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season#Four-season_calendar_reckoning

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[Eine Alpensinfonie]

.
...I think there is agreement, of sorts : astronomers use the former, meteorologists use the latter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season#Four-season_calendar_reckoning

.

A very interesting article. I liked the 6-season example. Here in Devon we have three seasons: Spring, summer and autumn.

[MrGongGong]

A very interesting article. I liked the 6-season example. Here in Devon we have three seasons: Spring, summer and autumn.

And it rains in every one of them

I once made a piece with students at Limerick University called "The Four Seasons"

Spring: soft rain
Summer: periods of no rain then soft rain
Autumn: Wind and rain
Winter: Driving rain

Each movement had the sound of 8 home-made rainsticks played in different ways

[Dave2002]

And it rains in every one of them

I once made a piece with students at Limerick University called "The Four Seasons"

Spring: soft rain
Summer: periods of no rain then soft rain
Autumn: Wind and rain
Winter: Driving rain

Each movement had the sound of 8 home-made rainsticks played in different ways

We went to the chamber music festival in Bantry a few years ago. I think it was supposed to be summer. Great festival, but a lot of rain. Maybe you should get a group to go there. Sadly we're not too inclined to go back - too wet.

[jayne lee wilson]

There's nothing more beautiful on a clear December day than to see the low-angled sun catch bare tree trunks and branches. Various varieties of willow and dogwood with vivid orange, red or yellow stems, are cultivated for mass planting to give this effect to maximum advantage at this time of the year, which can appear to shimmer when viewed at a certain distance. Berries give their best display at this time of the year, before the birds have most of them. Some prunus trees and shrubs blossom at this time: a viburnum is presently flowing copiously in the garden here, giving off a sweet honeyed scent. Things only start looking drab by late January, the sun's angle being higher; but by that time one is starting to see crocus and snowdrop, and the first birdsong is only a short time ahead.

A beautiful paragraph, SA.... thank you.
There are a few birds who have helped us bear up through the Winter: those Robins, singing once again by the streetlamps, and at Dusk and Dawn; and earlier than ever this season, Mistle Thrushes have declaimed their far-carrying, repetitive-Blackbird whistles from the topmost twigs...

The Hedgehogs, filling up nightly on cat food, went down later than ever this November, in the third week; the smallest one even returned a few days ago to the outhouse, grateful for another meal; but disappeared quickly again...

[MrGongGong]

We went to the chamber music festival in Bantry a few years ago. I think it was supposed to be summer. Great festival, but a lot of rain. Maybe you should get a group to go there. Sadly we're not too inclined to go back - too wet.

I love the rain

[teamsaint]

I took this today at about 3.30 . Just after that a big cloud happened along, which blew everybody's chances of a photo of the sunset through the central stones, but seeing this was pretty special anyway.

Not a druid in sight, and the sunset on winter solstice is the key thing..........

Plenty of tourists about the place though.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Nowt worse than a fair weather druid!

[Bryn]

I took this today at about 3.30 . Just after that a big cloud happened along, which blew everybody's chances of a photo of the sunset through the central stones, but seeing this was pretty special anyway.

Not a druid in sight, and the sunset on winter solstice is the key thing..........

Plenty of tourists about the place though.

Wish I'd thought to be there. Did you by any chance, or intent, take any slightly earlier shots, with the sun partly obscured by the lintel? If not, there's always next year.

[teamsaint]

Wish I'd thought to be there. Did you by any chance, or intent, take any slightly earlier shots, with the sun partly obscured by the lintel? If not, there's always next year.

The only one I have from slightly earlier ( I think) that fits your criteria has the sun rather " ballooning" through the stones, ( sorry, don't have the technical language) and completely obscuring the lintel. This was on my phone, the last one on my camera.

[teamsaint]

Nowt worse than a fair weather druid!

Hmmmm.. but as December 22nd goes, it was fair weather..........

Poor effort from the druids though.

[cloughie]

Wish I'd thought to be there. Did you by any chance, or intent, take any slightly earlier shots, with the sun partly obscured by the lintel? If not, there's always next year.

Except that next year it could well be surrounded by mizzle!