Seasonal Living ~ Summer
Summer asks us to linger.
Longer days, hot nights, bare feet. An abundance of fruit and flowers, inviting us to tune into the richness of our senses.
At AVILLA, sense fully, live slowly is an invitation to move with the seasons rather than apart from them. To notice what is growing, what is abundant, what our bodies and homes naturally seem to crave, and to let those observations shape our daily rhythms.
Here are some of our favorite ways to settle into summer.
summer herbal recipes
Summer is an especially beautiful time to work with herbs. The garden is abundant, and many herbs are best enjoyed fresh — muddled into a drink, steeped into something cooling, or gathered for simple skin and body rituals.
hibiscus + mint tea ~ lemon verbena iced tea ~ lavender lemonade ~ rose face mist ~ calendula salve ~ aloe + cucumber skin mist ~ rosemary + lavender steam ~ mint hair rinse ~ rosemary hair rinse ~ cooling herbal bath ~ chamomile + lavender bath soak ~ herb-infused vinegar ~ fresh herb oil ~ rosewater spritz ~ sun-infused herbal oil
summer produce
Summer's abundance is perhaps its greatest pleasure. Farmers' markets and gardens overflow with produce meant to be eaten simply and often — sliced, salted, dressed with olive oil, or eaten straight from the garden.
tomatoes ~ peaches ~ nectarines ~ apricots ~ plums ~ figs ~ watermelon ~ melons ~ strawberries ~ blackberries ~ raspberries ~ blueberries ~ cherries ~ grapes ~ corn ~ zucchini ~ summer squash ~ cucumbers ~ eggplant ~ bell peppers ~ green beans ~ okra ~ avocados ~ fresh basil ~ mint ~ lemon verbena ~ rosemary ~ thyme ~ heirloom tomatoes
tactile treasures
Summer has its own materials. We trade heavy layers for washed linen, wool for cotton, and closed-in rooms for woven textures, open windows, and objects that feel light beneath the hand.
washed linen sheets ~ gauzy cotton curtains ~ linen tablecloths ~ woven straw baskets ~ raffia hats ~ woven market bags ~ cotton hammocks ~ lightweight quilts ~ terracotta pots ~ hand-thrown pitchers ~ glass carafes ~ ceramic bowls ~ wicker trays ~ straw mats ~ shell-filled dishes ~ sun-washed textiles ~ embroidered linens ~ vintage lace ~ woven fans ~ linen robes ~ cotton towels ~ handmade pottery ~ rattan chairs ~ natural fiber rugs
nourishment
Summer nourishment can be simple. Fresh produce, cool drinks, garden herbs, and meals eaten slowly outside are reminders that nourishment doesn't need to be complicated.
fresh fruit ~ tomato toast ~ chilled soups ~ watermelon with herbs ~ grilled vegetables ~ heirloom tomato salads ~ peaches with yogurt ~ fresh corn ~ cucumber salads ~ avocado ~ simple grain bowls ~ chilled herbal teas ~ sparkling water with citrus ~ fresh juices ~ yogurt with berries ~ eggs with garden herbs ~ grilled fish ~ simple summer pastas ~ fresh mozzarella ~ olive oil + herbs ~ fruit sorbets ~ abundant garden salads ~ meals eaten outdoors ~ slow breakfasts
rituals & pleasures
Perhaps the best way to live seasonally is simply to notice.
Summer offers countless small opportunities to step out of routine and into the present: watering the garden in the evening, hanging freshly washed linen in the sun, gathering herbs for tea, lingering over dinner, or watching the light change across a room.
morning garden walks ~ watering plants at dusk ~ barefoot afternoons ~ opening all the windows ~ swimming in cool water ~ gathering herbs ~ cutting flowers for the table ~ drying herbs ~ hanging linen in the sun ~ afternoon naps ~ reading outside ~ long lunches ~ evening walks ~ watching the sunset ~ eating outdoors ~ lighting candles at dusk ~ bathing in cool water ~ shell collecting ~ tending the garden ~ picking fruit ~ making flower arrangements ~ sitting in the shade ~ evening drinks on the patio ~ lingering after dinner ~ watching the light change
Summer doesn't have to be filled to be fully lived.
Sometimes it is simply a matter of noticing what is already here — the fruit on the table, the herbs in the garden, the warmth of the evening air, the texture of linen, the last light of the day.
sense fully, live slowly