Easy summer foraging adventures the whole family will remember

This is a part of “A Year in the Wild Kitchen of the Great Lakes,” a series in partnership with expert forager Lisa M. Rose, with the mission of nurturing a deeper connection with the natural world through foraging. To get started with your foraging journey, begin here with our “Framework to Sustainable and Safe Practices.” 

As Michigan’s fields burst into berry-laden glory, summer invites us to celebrate nature’s sweet, sun-ripened gifts. In this release of “A Year in the Wild Kitchen of the Great Lakes,” we lean into easy, juicy and luxurious low-lift foraging ideas that feel decadent, yet require almost no fuss. 

First up, let’s review how to gather, savor and share the bounty this season, whether you’re lakeside glamping with the kids or hosting a backyard sunset picnic.

A Berry Blast from the Past 

Last summer, we celebrated the Wild Berry Bonanza — an exhilarating journey through Michigan’s meadows, woodlands and bogs to uncover nature’s juiciest gems. From tiny wild strawberries bursting with sweetness at dawn, to thorny raspberries and blackberries hiding in bramble patches, and the vibrant clusters of serviceberries and blueberries in damp woods, visit the Wild Berry Bonza to learn:

• What to Look For: Detailed tips on identifying and harvesting each berry safely and sustainably.
• Where to Gather: Insights into optimal habitats — from open meadows to shaded trails.
• Pro Tips: Equipment advice (think shallow baskets layered with leaves) to protect delicate fruits.

Now, imagine taking those same hand–picked berries and weaving them into a sun-lit potion that captures summer in a glass. Just as our Wild Berry Bonanza taught you where and when to find the season’s juiciest treasures, this Sun-Brewed Herb Tea invites you to transform those fruits — and a few sprigs of lemon balm — into a carefree, sunshine-steeped refresher. It’s the perfect way to extend your foraging adventure from the field to the table, turning an afternoon of gathering into an afternoon of sipping pure, sun-kissed goodness.

Sun-Brewed Herb Tea: Lemon Balm & Berry Infusion

Cool down and nourish your  friends and family with this vibrant, caffeine-free sun tea — an effortless blend of foraged herbs and berries that’s as beautiful as it is refreshing. A light-hearted summer sip that turns sunshine into liquid gold — my Sun-Brewed Herb Tea blends freshly foraged lemon balm and wild berries in a clear pitcher, steeped in warm rays for a few blissful hours. 

Black raspberries are common on trails across the Great Lakes. (Photo Credit: Lisa M. Rose)

Ingredients

• A generous handful of fresh lemon balm leaves, or alternately fresh peppermint leaves
• A handful of mixed wild berries (blueberries, raspberries, serviceberries)
• Filtered water
• ½-gallon clear glass pitcher
• Clean cloth or tea cover

Method

1. Layer your flavors: tuck the lemon balm leaves and berries into the bottom of your pitcher.
2. Add water and cover: fill with filtered water, then drape the cloth over the top and secure with a rubber band.
3. Sun-steep: set the pitcher in direct sunlight for 3–4 hours. Watch as the sun gently infuses the water with herbal brightness and berry sweetness.
4. Strain and chill: after steeping, strain out solids, chill the tea in the fridge and serve over ice.

This sun-brewed infusion is the epitome of “easy luxury,” turning a handful of backyard treasures into a joyful, heart-warming treat for all ages. Strain, chill and pour over ice for a naturally uplifting, caffeine-free treat the whole family will adore.

Once you’ve steeped in the magic of sun-kissed tea, it’s time to turn up the effervescent fun —  bubbling those same wild berries and healing herbs into a sparkling celebration of summer for the adults. Perfect for backyard picnics, sunset sails or simply savoring summer’s wild beauty.

Elegant Abundance: Berry & Herb Summer Spritzer

Lisa M. Rose’s Wild Berry & Herbal Summer Wine Spritzer, up on deck for summer sunset boat cruise. (Photo Credit: Lisa M. Rose)

Whether you’re toasting summer picnics, sunset boat rides or simply celebrating the day’s harvest with family, this spritzer embodies the “juicy, luxurious abundance” of a Great Lakes foraging season — effortlessly elegant, endlessly refreshing. This sparkling white wine concoction layers hand-foraged blackberries, raspberries, strawberries (even mulberries or serviceberries if you wish) with delicate rose petals, bright lemon balm and fragrant elderflower for a vibrant, refreshing toast to nature’s bounty. 

Bright, citrusy-mint notes from lemon balm cut through the berry richness, and a gentle infusion of elderflower adds a honeyed warmth and aromatic complexity, tying all the elements together in a refreshingly balanced, herbal wine spritzer..

Ingredients (per quart)

• 1 cup mixed wild berries (blueberries, raspberries, serviceberries, mulberries)
• 2 tbsp fresh rose petals, gently rinsed
• 2 tbsp chopped lemon balm leaves, or alternately peppermint
• 1 tbsp elderflower syrup (or a handful of fresh elderflowers, lightly bruised) – optional 
• 1 quart sparkling white wine, or alternately chilled soda water for an alcohol-free version of the beverage
• Ice cubes

Method

1. Macerate the berries and herbs: in a large glass or pitcher or in individual glasses, gently muddle the mixed berries with rose petals and lemon balm with the wine or soda, just enough to release juices and aromatics.
2. Add the sweetener: stir in the elderflower syrup or bruised elderflowers. Let the mixture steep for 5 to10 minutes so the flavors meld.
3. Garnish and enjoy: float a few extra rose petals on top, tuck in a sprig of lemon balm, and serve immediately for maximum fizz and fragrance.

Sharing the Joy

Capture your berry adventures — snap photos of tiny strawberries or rosy-pink sun tea. Share your favorite finds online with #WildKitchenSummer, and join us for an August live Q&A to talk recipes, foraging tips, and summer wellness rituals.

This summer, embrace foraging as both a celebration and a mindful practice — an accessible way to bring a touch of luxury to family moments, wherever your favorite wilds may be. Let’s savor the season, one juicy bite at a time.

Catch more news at Great Lakes Now:

Spring Break Staycation: Foraging with the Family

Tapping Into Tradition: It’s Maple Syrup Season

Featured image: Whether you’re toasting summer picnics, sunset boat rides, or simply celebrating the day’s harvest with family, this spritzer embodies the “juicy, luxurious abundance” of a Great Lakes foraging season — effortlessly elegant, endlessly refreshing. (Photo Credit: Lisa M. Rose)