Summertime Brews

This week I have been making my own iced tea. I love water and don't really drink anything else besides water usually except Kombucha, green juice, and smoothies. But with all the herbs growing in my garden I'm always trying to find uses for them and who doesn't love a beautiful looking iced tea in the summer to cool off? This week I have been making my two favorites: Hibiscus Mint and Ginger Lemongrass. This is a picture of Hibiscus Mint. I used dried hibiscus flowers and fresh spearmint leaves. Check out the beautiful red color the hibiscus gives this tea! All you need to do is put your favorite herb combination in purified water, and let it sit out in the sun all day. Around dinnertime, I strain out the herbs with a spaghetti strainer and place the tea in the fridge after pouring everyone a glass with ice :-) What's your favorite summertime herbal brew combination?

Summer Traditions

How is your summer starting out so far?
Yesterday, I took my daughters almost an hour to a cute little blueberry farm, braving the heat but enjoying each bead of sweat as we laughed and walked picking, picking, and more picking. Once you start it's really hard to stop!

 

I'm such a sucker for a big red tractor! 

 

Mmmmm these have been delicious! I can't wait to come up with some yummy recipes to use them, but lately they have been like candy popping them in my mouth. I hear Blueberry Crumble, Blueberry pancakes, and Blueberry Jam calling my name. I wonder how Blueberry Soap would turn out? :-)

 

Lately back home in the garden, everything is flourishing includes tons of Passionflower Vine. It pops up randomly in all kinds of places but I have such a hard time pulling it up, because it attracts the Giant Black Swallowtail butterfly and others such as the one above. Monarch? I don't know I'm not good with butterfly identification like I really should be!

 

Coral Honeysuckle is hanging all over my garden arbor, I love looking for hummingbirds on these blooms as I walk into the garden.

This morning I spotted a yellow water lily in bloom in my pond. It closes up at night but during the day it really lights up the pond especially today which was mostly overcast it was such a lovely addition to the water. 

I hope your summer is off to a great start! How has your garden been inspiring you lately?