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Potted red and purple plants with a flag, a colorful summer drink with fruits and herbs and a hummingbird with salvia plant

Celebrate Independence Day with Red, White & Blue Family Fun

This Independence Day feels especially meaningful as Americans gather to celebrate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Whether you're commemorating this historic milestone, hosting a backyard barbecue, enjoying a poolside gathering, or simply spending time with family and friends, great food and colorful summer flowers are timeless ways to celebrate.

These red, white, and blue recipes bring plenty of patriotic flair to your holiday table, while our easy container garden project offers a fun activity everyone can enjoy together. Best of all, these ideas are just as perfect for future Fourth of July celebrations, helping create traditions your family can look forward to year after year.

Fruit cups on a tray.

Patriotic Punch

Layer strawberry puree, ice-cold lemonade, and frozen blueberries for a family-sized punch that makes a statement!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. fresh strawberries, stems removed and roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 2 quarts lemonade, still or sparkling
  • 1-pint blueberries, frozen
  • 3 cups ice

Method:

  1. In a blender, combine chopped strawberries, sugar, and a splash of lemonade. Pulse until smooth, adding just enough lemonade to end up with a thin puree.
  2. Pour strawberry puree into a 1-gallon clear pitcher.
  3. Toss in 3 cups of ice, but don’t stir!
  4. Carefully pour in lemonade, leaving a few inches of space at the top of the pitcher. Refrain from stirring.
  5. Top with frozen blueberries. The punch should have a red, white, and blue layered look! Place punch on the table and stir immediately before serving.

Two blue cheese burgers on a cutting board.

Red, White & Blue Cheese Burger

Ripe red tomatoes, grilled white onions, and savory blue cheese make these juicy burgers a flavor powerhouse!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 2 oz. Blue cheese crumbles
  • ¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ tsp. dry mustard
  • ¼ tsp. Ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 4 fresh burger buns from your favorite local bakery
  • 1 large, ripe tomato (Heirlooms are best!)
  • 1 large white onion, sliced
  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbps. balsamic reduction
  • Arugula, spinach or lettuce leafs

Method:

  1. At least two hours before grilling, combine beef, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, black pepper, salt, and blue cheese crumbles in a large bowl. Mix until well incorporated (but avoid overmixing) before sealing the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerating.

  2. Meanwhile, place onion slices in a grilling basket and season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.

  3. Reduce heat to medium-low before adding onion slices, then allow it to cook until they take on a golden color for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  4. Preheat the grill to high heat about 15 minutes before you plan to serve.

  5. Form the burgers into generous patties, working quickly to avoid heating up the cold beef mixture. Make a slight depression in the middle of each patty—this will give you an evenly cooked burger.

  6. Transfer grilling basket of onions and burger patties to the grill. Cook patties on the grill for about 3 minutes and flip. Continue cooking for another 2 minutes, then remove patties and onion basket from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

  7. While burgers are resting, combine the mayonnaise and balsamic reduction and stir until fully incorporated.

  8. Assemble the burgers by adding a dollop of balsamic mayo to both sides of the bun, then topping with burger patties, grilled onion, sliced tomato, and arugula, spinach or lettuce, plus any other toppings you like!

Create Patriotic Planters for Your Independence Day Celebration

Looking for a festive way to decorate your patio, entryway, or pool area for Independence Day? A red, white, and blue flower container is a colorful way to welcome guests and celebrate the season.

A week or two before your gathering, plant a patriotic container using heat-tolerant annuals that can handle Arizona's summer temperatures. Mix and match flowers in shades of red, white, and blue, or create several coordinating pots to place around your outdoor living spaces. By the time family and friends arrive, your containers will be established and adding plenty of color to the celebration.

Here are a few summer annuals that can handle the Arizona heat:

Red flowers.Red Heat-Tolerant Annuals

  • Portulaca (shown)
  • Lantana
  • Celosia
  • Cosmos
  • Gazania
  • Salvia
  • Vinca
  • Zinnia

White flowers.White Heat-Tolerant Annuals

  • Phlox
  • Cleome (shown)
  • Sweet Alyssum
  • Verbena
  • Angelonia
  • Cosmos
  • Nierembergia
  • Gazania isotmoa

Blue flowers.Blue Heat-Tolerant Annuals

  • Isotoma
  • Angelonia
  • Scaevola
  • Plumbago (shown)
  • Lisianthus
  • Nierembergia
  • Blue Salvia

For an extra patriotic touch, consider displaying your flowers in colorful planters that can brighten your outdoor spaces well beyond Independence Day and continue providing summer color for weeks to come.

Want to show off your Fourth of July planters or recipes? Post your photos on Instagram and tag us at #summerwindsaz!

At SummerWinds, We Guarantee Success!