My home is infused with the delicate scent of elderflower blossom. Literally. I feel wafts of floral citrusy elderflower deliciousness wherever I move about.
To me, elderflower blossom is the scent of newly sprung Summer. The scent of those first tender days of Summertime.
This is the season where the elderflowers bloom abundantly in every garden, in every meadow, here in Northen Europe. Elderflowers are the fragrant, tiny, star-shaped white flowers that grow on Elder trees and bushes. They grow wild throughout Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia.
I have been collecting elderflowers after my daily run in the woods for the last couple of days. Elderflowers have amazing health benefits. They also carry wisdom.
I use the fresh flowers for tea. I put a couple of them in water together with an organic lemon in slices. It makes a perfect summertime thirst quencer. I let it cool and drink it throughout the day. A delightful cup of Summer.
I have made it a tradition to celebrate each month of the year, one by one. I do so as a way to be present in each season. With every new month I write a list of the things I enjoy about the month. I then list ways I can indulge in these things.
June is delightful. It is the time when everything is newly sprung. The month carries a sense of expectation. An eagerness to approach the newness. It’s playful. Lighthearted and fun.
I adore listening to the sound swallows give off while circling the sky. Blackbirds singing their song.
Entering a forest is like walking into a symphony of uplifting tunes. There is so much activity in nature this time of year. June has turned wilderness into an extensive nursery – hatchlings chirping, squirrel kits running about, fawns taking their first steps, fox pups exploring the grounds.
June brings life to the most luscious scents. Nature is brimming with the potent scent of greenery.
To me June is also the time of sunkissed strawberries. The really ripe, sweet and juicy ones. Not the mention the wild strawberries. The ones that grow wild near the woodlands.
To me June is also the time to have my breakfast on my terrace. I set the table with vintage china with a summery feel.
It’s the Month where I turn my terrace into a studio. In the delightful shade of the sun blinds I work at the terrace desk. Attend to the projects I care for from there.
To me June is also a time to enjoy the archipelago. Having a picnic by the sea on a sunny boulder. Taking a boat to an island. Going for a swim. Breathing the salty air.
Here is a song I listen to. It has that ”Summer’s day in June in Sweden” feel to it. From the Eurovision Song Contest 1972. Family Four: Härliga sommardag/Wonderful Summer’s Day.
What do you enjoy about the month of June?
What favorite activities do you like to fill the month with?