Summer Starts at the Table
By Jeff Graham
Fresh Flowers, Summer Salads & Outdoor Living
One of the greatest rewards of gardening isn't simply watching your plants grow.
It's enjoying them.
After months of planting, watering and tending your garden, summer invites us to slow down and appreciate everything we've created. A backyard filled with flowers, herbs and vegetables becomes more than just a garden—it becomes a place where family gathers, conversations linger and memories are made.
Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue, inviting neighbours over or enjoying a quiet dinner on the patio, your garden provides everything you need for an unforgettable summer evening.
Let's bring the garden to the table.
Create an Outdoor Room
The best summer gatherings begin with a welcoming space.
Think of your patio as another room in your home.
Create an inviting atmosphere with:
- Comfortable patio furniture
- Colourful outdoor cushions
- Patio umbrellas for cooling shade
- Outdoor rugs
- Decorative containers overflowing with flowers
- Lanterns and candles
- String lights for evening ambience
Garden Tip:
Layer your outdoor space just as you would a room inside your home. Combining furniture, flowers, lighting and décor creates a warm, inviting atmosphere your family and guests won't want to leave.
Harvest Your Own Centrepiece
One of the easiest ways to impress your guests is with flowers picked fresh from your own garden.
Some of my favourites include:
- Dahlias
- Zinnias
- Roses
- Hydrangeas
Don't forget the foliage!
Adding hosta leaves, coral bells and ferns creates texture and gives arrangements a professional, garden-inspired look.
Every bouquet is unique because every garden is unique.
Harvest the Perfect Summer Salad
Nothing tastes better than ingredients picked just moments before dinner.
Start with fresh greens:
- Leaf Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Swiss Chard
Add vegetables straight from the garden:
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Sweet Peppers
- Radishes
Finish with fresh herbs:
- Basil
- Parsley
- Chives
- Dill
- Mint
Top with Ontario goat cheese, toasted pumpkin seeds or candied pecans for extra flavour and texture.
Add Edible Flowers
Want to make your guests stop and say, "Wow!"?
Finish your salad with edible flowers.
Some favourites include:
- Nasturtiums
- Violas
- Pansies
- Calendula
- Chive Blossoms
- Borage
- Bachelor Buttons
Not only do they add incredible colour, but many also provide subtle peppery, citrus or cucumber-like flavours.
Garden Tip:
Only harvest flowers that are known to be edible and have never been treated with pesticides or products not approved for edible crops.
Jeff's Ontario Summer Garden Menu
Ontario summers produce some of the freshest ingredients anywhere. Here's one of my favourite menus for celebrating everything the season has to offer.
Appetizer
Fresh Tomato & Basil Bruschetta
Fresh Ontario tomatoes, basil from the garden, garlic, olive oil and toasted artisan bread.
Main Course
Garden Fresh Summer Salad
Fresh-picked greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs, edible flowers, Ontario goat cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds served with Anthony's Fresh Garden Herb Vinaigrette.
Anthony's Fresh Garden Herb Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp Ontario honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp chopped basil
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tsp chopped dill
- 1 tsp chopped chives
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper
Directions:
Whisk together the lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey and garlic. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until smooth. Stir in the herbs, season to taste and refrigerate for 20 minutes before serving.
Side Dish
Ontario New Potato Mash with Garden Herbs
Fresh Ontario new potatoes are one of summer's greatest treats.
Boil until fork tender before mashing with butter, a splash of cream and freshly chopped chives, parsley and dill from the garden.
Simple, fresh and the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats or vegetables.
From the Grill
Grilled Ontario Peaches with Honey & Fresh Thyme
One of summer's simplest—and most delicious—recipes.
Brush ripe Ontario peach halves lightly with olive oil and grill cut-side down for 3–4 minutes until caramelized.
Turn over, drizzle with local honey and sprinkle with fresh thyme harvested from your herb garden.
Serve alongside grilled chicken or pork, sliced over your salad or topped with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Dessert
Fresh Ontario Strawberries with whipped cream, fresh mint and a drizzle of local honey.
Garden-Inspired Drinks
Fresh herbs aren't just for cooking.
Add mint, basil, rosemary or lemon balm to lemonade, sparkling water, mocktails or summer cocktails.
Garnish with sliced cucumber, strawberries or edible flowers for a refreshing finishing touch.
Enjoy the Garden After Dark
As the sun begins to set, your garden transforms into an entirely different space.
Create a warm evening atmosphere with:
- String lights
- Lanterns
- Candles
- Solar pathway lighting
- Fire pits or fire tables
Some of the best conversations happen long after the sun goes down.
Send Guests Home with a Little Piece of the Garden
A thoughtful garden-inspired gift is a wonderful way to thank your guests.
Ideas include:
- A fresh bouquet
- A potted herb
- A small succulent
- Fresh vegetables from the garden
- Homemade pesto
- Herb butter
- A favourite perennial
It's a simple gesture they'll remember long after the evening ends.
Garden Tip: The Best Part of Gardening
A beautiful garden isn't measured by the number of flowers it produces or the size of your harvest.
It's measured by meals shared around the patio table.
By children chasing butterflies across the lawn.
By evenings spent outdoors laughing with family and friends.
This summer, don't just admire your garden.
Live in it.
Share it.
Celebrate it.
Because the best gardens aren't just beautiful...
They're filled with people.
Happy Gardening!
– Jeff & The Bradford Greenhouses Team
