Special Event
The Surreal Garden
Zilker Botanical Garden 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, United StatesReturning Spring of 2023! Ion Art will illuminate the Zilker Botanical Garden for the second consecutive year with The Surreal Garden Exhibition. For two weekends - April 7-8 and 13-15, experience this neon phenomenon as it enchants the Garden. Support local artists while simultaneously supporting the Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy. Dress in your best Surreal attire and enjoy a night full of interactive art, music, fantastical costumes, live entertainment, dancing, unlimited photo opportunities, and people-watching. Local food trailers, dessert tables, and cash bars will be served on-site. Vendors available on selective nights: Garbo’s Lobster Rolls, TacoMan 512, Downtown Burgers, Burro Cheese Kitchen, Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop, Zucchini Kill, and Pretty Cute Coffee; cash bar services provided by Black Sheep Lodge.
Blanco Lavender Festival
Blanco Lavender Festival Blanco, TX, United StatesJoin us for the Blanco Lavender Festival held annually in June in historic Blanco, TX. Take a tour of the Hill Country Lavender farm or stroll the Lavender Market, on the grounds of the historic Blanco County Courthouse. Both of these options are always a must-see highlight of the festival. At the Lavender Market, select artists and craftspeople from across Texas and beyond will offer the finest lavender-related pleasures and treasures. Hill Country Lavender Farm Owner Tasha Corradini has been involved with the farm since 1999 when the first lavender sprig was planted at the original location, owned at the time by National Geographic photographer Robb Kendrick and author Jeannie Ralston. After serving as the farm’s manager for several years, Tasha purchased Hill Country Lavender and relocated to the corner of FM 2325 and 165. The new farm is a boutique farm sitting on 2.75 acres of land. The field is split into two sections, featuring over 8 different types of lavender. Visitors are invited to visit the farm and enjoy the beauty of the lavender field in and out of bloom. Hill Country Lavender’s product line include more than 75 products, offering a variety of soaps, lotions, sprays, as well as a full line of culinary items. Products are all small batch, handmade by the owners. All products are also available year-round at Brieger Pottery on the Blanco Square. Lavender Market Hours: Fri 12 - 6 / Sat 9 - 6 / Sun 10 -4 Hill Country Lavender Farm Hours: Fri 10 -5 / Sat 9 - 5 / Sun 10 - 4 (festival weekend only)
Summer Solstice
Lakeway Garden Club Lakeway, TX, United StatesThe summer solstice in 2023 will take place on Wednesday 21 June at precisely 9:58am CT. Contrary to popular belief, the solstice is an exact moment and not the entire day. The event takes place on the first day of the astronomical summer season and marks the exact point the northern hemisphere is pointing directly towards the Sun. It also marks the longest day of the year, with the highest number of daylight hours seen in a single day in 2023. Expect at least 16 hours of daylight in the US. What is the summer solstice? The summer solstice takes place at the exact moment the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, which is when the northern hemisphere is tilted most towards the Sun. Essentially, it marks the point when the Sun’s rays hit this part of the Earth most directly. The Earth’s axis has a tilt of around 23.4 degrees, relative to its orbit around the Sun. On 21 June, the northern hemisphere is tilted at its closest point towards the sun and the southern hemisphere is tilted its furthest away from the Sun, which is why the northern and southern hemispheres have opposite seasons to one another. This means that the southern hemisphere will be celebrating its winter solstice at the same time as our summer event and vice versa. Because it is related to tilt and not orbit distance, the Earth is actually closest to the Sun (the perihelion) in January and furthest from it (the aphelion) in July. The summer solstice is not necessarily the hottest day of the year. Usually, the hottest day of the year is in July or August. This is because oceans and land masses release the heat absorbed from the longer days back into the atmosphere.
Autumnal Equinox
Happy First Day of Fall!
Annular Solar Eclipse
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while at its farthest point from Earth. Because the Moon is farther away from Earth, it does not completely block the Sun. This will create a "ring of fire" effect in the sky for those standing in the path of annularity. During an annular eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing. Location Partial Eclipse Begins Annularity Begins Maximum Annularity Ends Partial Eclipse Ends Lakeway, Texas 10:23 a.m. CDT 11:52 a.m. CDT 11:54 a.m. CDT 11:56 a.m. CDT 1:33 p.m. CDT