The rain held off last night as we burned our solstice affirmations in my friends' backyard fire pit. As we said goodbye to the sun on the longest night of the year, we each tossed in a slip of paper where we had written something from this past year that we'd like to let go.

It was a wonderful ritual, that in different circumstances might have been solemn. Our group, however, was about 1/2 kids, and as soon as the affirmations were burned, all sorts of experimental items from the garden began to sneak their way into the fire.

Today is the solstice. Tomorrow the days get longer.

The rain finally arrived last night, but it's very warm. It hardly feels like December. Two nights ago, riding home on my bike in the dark at 5:30, I heard crickets all through the neighborhood.

After the warmest fall on record in many parts of the west, our solstice feels less like winter, and more like an uncanny blend of spring and fall. Damp and mild with fall color and bright green grass and weeds, all at the same time.

The darkness of the solstice doesn't change, though, no matter the weather. It's a funny thing to take comfort in, but for me I find it very grounding. There is so little you can predict, but the rotation of the earth around the sun? You can count on that.

Not only do we know that the solstice is today, broadly speaking. It was at exactly 7:03 am Pacific time this morning. We turned the corner, just a few hours ago.

What comes next is, for the most part, mysterious, but we do know that tomorrow will be longer than today.

This will be my last newsletter for 2025.

I'll be back to writing the newsletter in the New Year, and have lots of garden planning & seed starting posts and webinars lined up for you.

Until then, Happy Solstice, and Happy Holidays.

Anne

P.S. Thank you so much for all your kind condolences about our lost kitty.

When you’re ready, here are some more ways I can help you grow a thriving garden from seed:

1. Plan your seed-starting schedule with our ​free printable planner.​

2. Download the free ​Orta Seed Starting Handbook with all the basics you need to succeed with seeds.​

3. Take the guesswork out of watering with Orta Self-Watering Pots. (Find discounted factory seconds here!)

4. Join the Orta Seed Club to have 5 hand-picked, unusual & high-yielding varieties delivered to you every season.

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