There is a moment in the late afternoon–before it slips into evening–when the sun slants in from the northwest and illuminates my garden. All the plants glow, lit from behind and within. For a few minutes I dwell in a stained glass window of amethyst irises, golden flecks of bees returning to the hive, flickering and dappled green leaves. Sun ruffles the edge of lettuce leaves and brings a rich depth to humble broccoli.

Twilight lingers long after I have eaten my salad of sunlight, melted snow and crumbled mountains. The sky is clear and bright in the north when I go to bed. The garden rests till the sun returns in a few hours. The solstice is still a couple weeks away, but these hours of light and growing are to be savored now.