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

For animal lovers in the Santa Clarita area, the Gibbon Conservation Center is a must-see attraction that makes a great family outing. This zoo-like facility studies gibbons, a member of an Asian ape species that are truly fascinating creatures. The biologists at the Gibbon Conservation Center study the gibbons and their mating patterns, diets, and other unique tendencies to help conserve the species and keep it from becoming endangered.

During your visit, you will not only get an up-close-and-personal look at the gibbons that inhabit the facility, you’ll also take a tour led by a biologist to learn all about the center’s conservation efforts. Wear comfortable walking shoes on your visit so that you can later enjoy wandering the grounds on the paved walking trails once the tour is through, and be sure to set aside at least two or three hours to really explore this fascinating facility.

Gibbon Conservation Center
19100 Esguerra Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91390
(661) 296-2737
www.gibboncenter.org

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Kent Wang

There are few things more relaxing than kicking back after a long day with a hot mug of tea, but how much do you really know about the brew that you’re sipping? From its numerous health benefits to its rich, global history, there’s a whole lot to learn about this fascinating beverage!

• Tea bags were originally designed in the early 1800s. They were created to hold samples of tea brought to America from India. Today, tea bags are much more commonly used than loose-leaf varieties.
• Darjeeling tea is the world’s rarest tea. It gets its name because it's grown in the Indian region of Darjeeling. While many types of teas are labeled Darjeeling, only 1/4 are actually from the region!
• While tea styles like black, green, white, and oolong taste very distinct, they all come from the same Camellia sinensis plant. It's the way the leaves are harvested and treated that determines their color and variety.
• Herbal teas are not really teas at all. Rather, they're infused fruits, flowers, plants, and herbs.
• China is the world’s largest tea producer. The country supplies 29% of the tea in the world. India comes in a close second.
• The Chinese are not the world’s largest tea consumers. That title belongs to the United Arab Emirates!

Tea Facts from A to Z: 26 Things You Didn’t Know About Tea [Fine Dining Lovers]
Tea Fact Sheet – 2014 [Tea Association]
10 Interesting Facts About Tea — Iron Chef America Ingredients 101 [Food Network]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Ashwin KC