Now that summer is here, you're likely looking for fun, colorful ways to brighten up your home. If you want to add a pop of color and a burst of freshness to your kitchen or dining space, try decorating with something a bit out-of-the-ordinary: citrus fruits! Here are a few ways to decorate with oranges, lemons and more.

Dried Citrus Ornaments
While these types of dried citrus ornaments are normally used around the holidays, they look (and smell!) just as great in the summertime, too. Try drying your fruits and hanging them on a garland of eucalyptus over the kitchen window, or forage some branches, pop them in a vase and hang the ornaments on the ends.

Lemon Centerpieces
Planning a dinner party or a weekend brunch? Create your very own centerpiece made with bright, fresh lemons! If you're pressed for time, simply fill an attractive bowl with whole lemons for a subtle scent and a pretty pop of yellow. If you have a bit more time to spare, try filling a glass vase with water. Cut lemons into thin slices, and then submerge them in the vase for a more unique look.

Preserved Lemon Jars
This one plays double-duty as both a decoration and a helpful baking ingredient. Quick-preserve your lemons using just lemon juice and kosher salt, and then store them in large jars around the kitchen for a rustic, farmhouse-inspired look. Reach into the jars whenever you need something to zest up a pasta dish, roasted chicken or even a dessert!

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Rob.Bertholf

Whether you’re looking for a new place for your morning jog or an outdoor area where you can play pickup baseball with friends, you’ll find all types of outdoor activities at Bear Creek Pioneers Park. This spacious, well-maintained park spans 2,168 acres of beautiful Texas landscape, and it features convenient paved roads and parking lots that make it easily accessible for visitors.

Once inside the park, you’ll find miles of walking and jogging paths, as well as equestrian trails for horseback riders. Tennis courts and volleyball courts are perfect for a pickup game, while soccer, baseball, and softball fields offer places for local leagues to play. Take a visit to the small zoo to visit the emus, ostriches, and buffalo, then venture over to the wildlife habitat to check out the area’s local wildlife inhabitants.

Bear Creek Pioneers Park
3535 War Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77084
(281) 496-2177
www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/Bear-Creek-Pioneers-Park/20090

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr florian.scholz

Let Sweet Tomatoes come to the rescue on days when you just don't feel like cooking. This unique eatery in northwestern Houston offers a huge, all-you-can-eat selection of fresh, veggie-centric dishes that are just as beautiful on the plate as they are delicious and healthy.

The menu changes regularly with the seasons, so you won't get bored with the same meal over and over again. Try the spicy cucumber watermelon salad with sriracha sauce that adds an extra kick to the sweet flavors, or go for the Asian ginger broth with mushrooms, cubed tofu, and chopped scallions for a fresh and light dinner. Sweet Tomatoes also strives to offer kid-friendly options such as tossed salads and the festive red white and blue potato salad with bacon. And of course, don't forget dessert, which includes lemon lava cake and peach cobbler soft-serve ice cream.

Sweet Tomatoes
8775 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 365-9594
www.souplantation.com/locations/restaurant.aspx?store_id=59&store_name=Katy_Fwy
www.yelp.com/biz/sweet-tomatoes-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/woodleywonderworks