Summer is one of my favorite seasons.
Long, sunny days, blue skies, fresh produce, gorgeous flowers, and warm weather all make me so happy. Captain Cavedweller also takes over a lot of the evening meal preparation because he is the barbecue expert at our house (which makes me ridiculously happy!).
Although many of us are still social distancing, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the summer. There are several things I’m looking forward to.
Vegetable garden. We’ve planted our garden (more than once… the torrential rain a few weeks ago killed several plants.) The one thing I couldn’t find this year was lemon cucumbers, but I’m trying a new Japanese cucumber. We’ll also have lettuce, tomatoes (four varieties!), summer squash, zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon, potatoes, peas, and herbs. If you haven’t put in a garden and want to, there’s still time to plant the basics. Peas and lettuce can be replanted during the summer season, too. If you don’t have much room, there are varieties that can be grown in containers or flower pots.
Flower garden. I love flowers. Of course, my favorites are roses. I have tea roses and floribunda, and miniature roses in a variety of colors. I love cutting a bouquet to bring inside to enjoy not only their beauty, but their sweet, spicy scent. I also grow an assortment of other flowers that includes everything from pansies and petunias to four o’clocks, hydrangeas, sweet peas, and cinnamon pinks (love, love their scent). If you’ve never planted a flower before, try zinnias or marigolds. They are hardy and hard to kill.
Grilled meals. Captain Cavedweller enjoys experimenting with his grill and smoker which means I don’t have to fix dinner when he does. (Yay!) Summer meals are lighter, packed with flavor, and just seem so much more casual. I’m looking forward to CC giving his smoker a workout in the coming months.
Summer reading. I love to take a good book and sit outside to read. I just find it so peaceful and a great way to relax and recharge. One of my favorite places to sit is a bench in the backyard in the evening where I can watch the neighbor’s horses in the pasture and see the glorious colors of the sunset.
Summer scents. There are so many scents that I connect with summer. Like fresh cut hay, ripening peaches, and the way sagebrush smells after a summer storm. There are also scents I like to bring inside my home with candles or plug-ins like citrus, sage, and rose. They all make they think of summertime and are so light compared to the heavier scents of autumn and winter.
What you?
What are some things you are looking forward to this summer?
Even if you staying home, I hope you’ll check out Savvy Summer Entertaining. It’s got some wonderful summer recipes and ideas for your home!
