Gardening | Winter Solstice 2016

The Winter Solstice brings the longest night and shortest day of the year. This year in the Northern Hemisphere the sun tracks its lowest arc across the sky on Wednesday, December 21. The 23.5 degree tilt of the earthís axis assures that every place north of the equator is at its farthest point from the sun.

The sun will bring us incrementally longer days for the following six months until the summer solstice in June when we enjoy the longest day and shortest night of the year.

The calendar marks the winter solstice for an entire day, but the event lasts for only the moment the sun is directly over the tropic of Cancer. Astronomically it is the first day of winter; however, meteorologically December 1 is the first day of winter. Astronomical seasons are based on the position of the earth in relation to the sun; while meteorologically they are based on the annual temperature cycle.

People on earth have celebrated the winter solstice for thousands of years. The event marks the return of life-renewing sunlight. Christian traditions like the Christmas tree, Yule log, and light displaysóbonfires and trees illuminated with candlesócan be traced to pagan solstice festivals. Christian leaders adopted such customs to draw pagans to their Christian religions. Pine was burned as incense. Evergreen holly, ivy and mistletoe were brought inside for decoration as part of celebrating of the rebirth of the sun.

The promise for more sun and longer days continues to inspire gardeners today.

Gardeners need to be familiar with the amount of light available to their gardens year round. Deciduous trees and shrubs alter the amount of light available to garden areas when they drop their leaves and again when they leaf out. The shifting angle of the sun determines the amount and location of shade from buildings, soffits, porches, carports and other structures. Shadows are the longest of the year at winter solstice.

With the sun is at its lowest position in the sky, its weak rays may reach into spots that are shaded other times of the year; and direct sunlight may not reach some spots that are sunny later when the sun is high in the sky during the growing season.

For a revealing view of your landscape take a winter solstice walk around your yard. Look at your property from its rear perimeter, from across the street and from neighborsí yards. Then take another walk with your camera. Photograph your landscape and the view beyond.

You will likely be amazed by how clear lines, curves, shapes, textures and proportions in your landscape appear in the pictures. The visual weight of certain plant material becomes apparent. You will see the bones of your gardens.

Some of what to see and look for in your pictures:

* trees and shrubs that need to be pruned for shape or opened up

* visual balance or a disproportionate heaviness in an area

* empty spots

* a focal point

* how your landscape interfaces with neighboring properties

* a vista between houses

* a borrowed landscape (backdrop), such as a body of water, a nature preserve, a park, a golf course, the views of which can be borrowed to become part of your landscape

Follow up your winter solstice pictures on June 21, 2017, the day of the summer solstice with another walk around your yard, camera in hand. Take photos of your landscape--same time of day, same locationsóas you did in winter. Compare the pictures of your winter and summer gardens. You will find the photos are invaluable help in siting new plants in the most advantageous spots. Take pictures each year and use them to track and develop your landscape.

The photos from fixed times and places reveal light from the sun at its lowest position on the shortest day of the year, and in its highest point in the sky on the longest day of the year. The spring and fall equinoxes are middle reference points you may want to include in your comparison.

The earth warms and cools and warms more slowly than the solstices would suggest, but we will have turned to corner to lighter days and the promise of a new growing season.

This story was originally published December 15, 2016 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Gardening | Winter Solstice 2016."