Cypress Grove Almanac: Summer Edition
Seasonal Florida Living - Where wild meets well
Summer certainly did not tiptoe in this season. The heat, the buzzing of the night, and even the shimmer of the air itself. It’s a season of growth and expansion, when everything leans toward the light.
Summer tends to slow the rhythm of my clinic. Patients are away with their families, traveling, resting, making memories. And in many ways, that’s medicine too. There’s healing in laughter by the pool’s edge, in sun-kissed shoulders, in long afternoons that ask nothing more than presence. Some days, I think there’s just something therapeutic about how good a cold slice of watermelon tastes after being in the hot Florida sun. That kind of rest, you know the ones that comes from joy and ease, feels like a homecoming for the spirit.
As the last day of school came and went, I felt what I think most parents do. That little heart ache, mixed with pride and joy for all that our children have learned and accomplished. The inches marked on the wall don’t lie: they’re growing fast. They say the days are long, but the years are short, and it’s true. I sat in my garden after getting my boys onto the bus for their last day of school and reflected on what Summer means to me, looking forward to the memories we will make over the coming months.
The first elderberry harvest of the season
The Heart of the Season
In Chinese medicine, summer is ruled by the Fire element, which governs the Heart and Small Intestine, the emotion of joy, and the spirit known as the Shen. This is the most expansive time of year. What we call the peak of Yang in Chinese medicine. The sun is high, the days are long, and energy wants to move outward. But even in the midst of summer’s brightness, there’s a reminder tucked within: too much fire burns. The task of summer is to find balance. To stay open and connected, while also protecting your energy and spirit.
The Heart is more than a pump in Chinese medicine. It’s the ruler of emotion, insight, and spiritual clarity. It governs our ability to connect with others, experience joy, and feel at home in ourselves. When the Heart is in balance, we sleep deeply, laugh easily, and speak with warmth. When it’s out of balance, we may feel restless, anxious, or scattered.
Its partner, the Small Intestine, helps us discern what to keep, what to let go. It supports the Heart by sorting through emotional, spiritual, and even dietary input.
Summer invites us to connect, but not overextend. To feel joy, but not burn out. To sweat, move, laugh, but also to rest in the shade and protect the Shen.
Living by the Season
Summer isn’t the time to push, it’s the time to pace. The heat, the brightness, the longer days… everything invites you to slow down and simplify. Here are a few ways to stay in rhythm with the season:
•Start your day early while it’s still cool. Water your garden, stretch, or take a walk before the sun gets high.
•Take a midday pause. If you can, stay indoors during peak heat (around 12–4 PM). Rest, read, or prep something cool to eat.
•Stay hydrated with more than just water. Add a pinch of sea salt, fresh herbs, or a splash of citrus to keep your minerals up and your body balanced.
•Eat with the season. Enjoy fresh herbs, seasonal fruits, and lighter proteins like fish and chicken, but keep veggies lightly cooked to support digestion and Spleen health.
•Protect your sleep. Even with longer days, try not to overextend yourself. Summer heat can disturb the Shen, aka overstimulate the mind and nervous system.
•Make space for joy. Swim, laugh, pick flowers, watch thunderstorms roll in. Simple pleasures are some of the best medicine this time of year.
Summer Food Therapy
In summer, Yang energy rises, bringing more heat to the surface of the body. We sweat more, eat less, and digestion slows slightly. Being the season of the Heart, we eat to cool, hydrate, and uplift the spirit all while still supporting the Spleen and digestion.
That doesn’t mean loading up on raw salads and cold smoothies. The digestive system prefers warmth and ease, even in the heat. Balance is key.
Best foods for summer:
Lightly cooked veggies: squash, green beans, and leafy greens
Water-rich fruits: watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe, berries
Bitter greens: dandelion, arugula, romaine
Red foods: tomatoes, cherries, strawberries (all Heart-supportive)
Fresh herbs: mint, basil, cilantro, lemon balm
Herbal teas: hibiscus, rose, tulsi, chrysanthemum, passionflower
Go easy on: heavy meats, fried foods, excessive caffeine, alcohol, and too much spice in peak heat.
Quick tip: Eat seasonally, but gently. Light cooking like steaming, sautéing, or quick stir-fries keeps digestion strong while still cooling the body from the inside out.
Our baby black berry bush putting out a few berries
From the Cypress Grove Medicinary
Since Summer is the season of the Heart, with all its brightness, heat, and outward movement, it’s easy to feel overstimulated or emotionally “crispy” around the edges. These two remedies from the Cypress Grove shelves are gentle yet effective allies for the season:
Shen & Shine
A joyful blend of Mimosa flower and Milky Oats tincture
This uplifting formula supports the nervous system, soothes frazzled edges, and helps calm the Shen, the spirit of the Heart. Featuring beautiful, wildcrafted mimosa flowers. It’s especially helpful during times of emotional overwhelm, irritability, or restless sleep. Take a dropperful when you need to feel a little more like yourself again.
Hibiscus Unwine Elixir
A tart, sweet, non-alcoholic summer tonic
This gorgeous ruby-red elixir blends hibiscus, hawthorn, schisandra, and rose hips, classic Heart herbs that cool and relax the system while gently toning the cardiovascular and emotional landscape. It also contains blue vervain and California poppy to help ease into a calm state without the need for alcohol. Add a splash to sparkling water for a soothing, mocktail-style moment on the porch, by the pool, or after dinner. It’s sweet-tart, floral, and deeply restorative.
Both of these seasonal favorites are available at the Cypress Grove clinic, in our online Etsy shop, and soon at our local farm stand (details coming soon!).
Until Next Season
At Cypress Grove, we honor Florida’s wild, sun-soaked season by embracing the joy, stillness, and herbal abundance that summer brings. We believe in tending not just to the body, but to the heart, through cooling herbs, seasonal rhythms, and moments that remind you how good it feels to just be.
Let this Summer Almanac be a gentle nudge:
To soften. To savor. To come home to your heart.
You’ll find me at the clinic, in the garden, or setting up the first touches of our little farm stand.
— Ashley Sidell, Cypress Grove Herbals, Where wild meets well
