Summer Garden Gifts: More Than Just Herbs

“We have some basil for you.”

That’s what my parents said, holding out a bunch of fresh-cut green leaves from their garden. Their backyard is overflowing this time of year—tomatoes, herbs, and whatever else managed to thrive despite Midwest weather mood swings. I have a small herb garden of my own, but we’re still in what I lovingly call a “learning season.” (I’m not sure if my mint is thriving or staging a coup.)

Luckily, I’ve got people. A brother-in-law who brings hot peppers and tomatoes like gifts from the gods. Friends who drop off zucchini without warning. My own parents with their arms full of basil.

Maybe that’s why this season feels almost holy to me—like second Christmas, but better. No wrapping paper, just butcher paper tied with twine and the kind of gift that makes your kitchen smell like summer.

Lately, I’ve been making little herb bouquets and delivering them to people I love. If my own garden’s coming up short, I hit the farmers market, grab a bunch of whatever’s fresh, and wrap it like a love note. It’s not about the size of the bouquet—it’s about the feeling.

And here’s the thing: these herbs don’t just sit pretty. They show up in everything:

• Stirred into mayo with a little garlic and Dijon, slathered on toasted bread, topped with turkey and tomato

• Sprinkled on eggs with a bit of melted Gouda

• Rough chopped into every single salad

• Tossed into a simmering pot of veggie soup, even in July

  
  

They remind me that food doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful. It just needs to be shared.

Now accepting all summer garden gifts—especially if you’re drowning in tomatoes.