There is always at least one thing each season that defines it for you. To some, summer is defined by cookouts, trips to the ocean, fireworks, ice cold lemonade... it just isn't summer to these folks without them. To me, summer has always been defined by its bugs. And not the ones that suck my blood and try to carry me off, prevalent as they may be.
It isn't summer until I've seen at least two dozen fireflies twinkling out in the yard. I've often thought of them as the torch-bearers of Fairy, illuminating the paths between our world and theirs or providing the lighting at one of their famous fairy balls. Fireflies are magical summer light-bringers, dancing and capturing the imagination beneath the starry summer sky.
If fireflies are the dancers, then who are the musicians to whom they dance? Cicadas, crickets and chirping frogs of course! The song of summer is carried on the air, even in more suburban places then you would imagine. If you have trees, or grass, you will probably hear the call of at least one of these creatures as the sun sets each summer night. If you are extremely lucky, you can drift off to sleep to the melody of more than one.
This summer sounds even more like summer then usual (as odd a sentence as that is to write) because the 13 year Magicicada has emerged and added his voice to the nightly choir. A much darker cicada then the annuals, his black body and orange veined wings would be a sight to behold. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed to see one of them before the end of the season as I don't want to wait until I'm 41 to try again!
What are the things that undeniably say 'it's summer!' to you?
You have captured summer beautifully. Oh, the magic of summer night, watching for the fireflies (or lightning bugs). The summer symphony is enchanting, too. Good luck spotting those cicadas!!
ReplyDeleteI know it's summer when I have to walk the long way through the yard to avoid crunching bees under my foot as they drunkenly tumble about my white clover and morning glories.... But i like your description of summer much better ^_^
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. The bugs mark that it's summer for me (especially the fire flies). As well as the hummingbirds. When I can sit on our deck in the evening and watch one of our regulars (there's about 4 different ones that visit on a regular basis) buzz about the feeder and decides to take a rest on top of it after a quick snack definitely marks summer for me.
ReplyDeleteLightning bugs, crickets, damsel-flies.. those are definitely the signs of summer.. love this, Danni!
ReplyDeleteLovely... sums up summer to a tee!!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely words.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had fireflies where I live. I've never even seen one in person, so I took much delight in your photo and words, Danni. I think you'd write the most wonderfully beautiful children's book someday : )
ReplyDeletePersonally I can't stand Summer, but I think that when I move to the place of my heart, literally, Summer will be a magickal time as well.
A lovely post! You have captured the essence of summer. I love hearing the symphony of cicadas, crickets, and frogs on a summer night. And watching the magickal lights dancing amongst the trees.
ReplyDeleteFireflies, and Butterflies and Dragonflies! That's it for me....and the sound of the bugs at night....we don't hear frogs much around here anymore....very sad....we had frogs all over the place here when I was growing up. I love when I'm waking up in the morning....when I'm not quite awake yet....and I hear the birds chirping....what a wonderfully peaceful way to wake up in the morning.
ReplyDeleteSummer: fireflies, crickets, cicadas, whippoorwills. Dragonflies, butterflies, bees, and tomato hornworms. Meteor showers, thunderstorms, hail, and heat lightning. Lemonaid, peaches, ice cream, and watermelon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post! :)
Beautiful painting. :) I adore fireflies. Usually we see them in August when we go to the local parks in the evening to see live Shakespeare. It just adds to the magic. :)
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