Tuesday, June 21, marks this year’s summer solstice, or the first official day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
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What happens during the summer solstice?

According to Britannica, the summer solstice is the day “the sun travels travels the longest path through the sky,” resulting in the most daylight and making it the longest day of the year. The North Pole is tilted about 23.4° (23°27´) toward the sun during the summer solstice, while the South Pole tilts the same amount six months later during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice.

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When do solstices occur?

Solstices happen every June and December, occurring at the same time around the world and marking the year’s longest and shortest days. The summer solstice (longest day) typically falls on either June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Is the summer solstice the hottest day of the year?

"While you may believe more sunlight equals more heat, that’s not necessarily the case. According to Spectrum Local News, there is a lag time for oceans and land to heat. The Northern Hemisphere may receive the most hours of sunlight on the summer solstice, but the hottest temperatures won’t come until “around late July or early August, depending on latitude and other factors.”

Since today's temperature on our deck in the photo above was 99 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, I'm not looking forward to whatever will be the "hottest day of the year" that is yet to come. We've had extreme heat for over 2 weeks now. As a result, most of the flower buds have been drying up and dropping off before opening. Otherwise, the deck would currently be an explosion of flowers; not just the limited number of blooms in the photo.

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Severe thunderstorms are in the forecast for tonight. They are moving in as I type this...