Simple summer ideas to encourage a friend

My friend, Ann Marie, has beautiful gardens and she is always filling vases with her flowers to drop off to others. I’ve received flowers from her ‘just because’ as well as to remember my dad, to comfort me after our oldest son moved out of state, and simply because one of her prized gladiolas is my favorite color. She is always thinking about who she can surprise and encourage next! 

When summer comes, I often find I have a little more down time to think about ways I can care for others. I don’t have Ann Marie’s green thumb, but I love finding simple ways to brighten someone's day, especially if it gets me outside in the sunshine.

Flowers

When my kids were younger, we were always looking for activities that we could do together that would bless a neighbor or a friend. We’d drive to a local nursery, buy annuals, and plant them in flower pots. Then, we would make little signs that said “Happy Summer”, tape them to kabob sticks, and tuck them into the soil. We also loved picking blueberries together and putting them in containers to share.

Summer makes it easy to find fresh flowers almost anywhere. Nurseries, farmer’s markets, roadside stands, and even Costco, Target, or Trader Joe’s have wonderful options. When I’m choosing flowers for a friend, I might look for her favorite color or a flower she had at her wedding. Forget-me-knots are meaningful because of their name and you can find them at local garden centers from April-June. 

Seed packets are another way you can give flowers to a friend. I currently have tiny orange zinnias coming up that my sister gave me years ago to remind me of my dad. They continue to reseed themselves each year and it’s fun to see where they show up. You can mail seed packets too if your friend lives out of town!

If you want to plant a flower in your yard that blooms for a long time and is great for sharing, zinnias are my favorite! They bloom for months, make wonderful cut flowers, and are easy to grow after the last frost. The first year I planted them was the summer my dad was going through chemo. I remember putting some in a Mason jar for him that made the trip from Virginia to Maryland. 

Fresh Fruit & Veggies

With those memories tucked away, I now look for similar ways to care for my friends in the summer! Something as simple as cutting up a big watermelon and putting the pieces in a sharable container is appreciated. Toss a few blueberries on top to make it look even more summery. Cantaloupe and blueberries are another great combo as well. 

Here in Virginia, zucchini is readily available in the summer. Apart from it being enjoyed as a delicious vegetable, it can also be used in its shredded form to keep baked goods moist. I like  Hope's Table's Chocolate Zucchini Bars. This favorite recipe only requires a few ingredients and is easy to cut into squares to share with a friend.

I hope this gives you some ideas for how you can use the slower pace of summer to brighten your own space and to care for your friends. It’s never hard to think of someone in your life who would be blessed by a little surprise drop off.

Warmly,
Adina