There is no denying that gardening is a hot job. Especially in the summer. But I learned a trick for keeping cool recently that I wanted to share with you today.
It actually came from an unexpected place. On our recent trip to New Orleans, we had one of our favorite meals at this restaurant named Gris-Gris. My sister had to go back and forth with the restaurant to find seats for the number of people we had in our party and the schedule that we were working with. And, as luck would have it, we ended up sitting at the chef’s table with a direct view of the action in their kitchen. It was the coolest restaurant seat I’ve ever had. We got to chat with Chef Eric Cook and watched as he and his talented team served up a variety of tasty items to the waiting tables.
But it was New Orleans, and, kind of like Florida, it was pea-soup-hot in the kitchen. One of the sous-chefs was commenting on the heat, and the chef abruptly left with some of their kitchen towels and then came back with a bowl and a little bottle. He poured some of the contents of the bottle into the bowl with water and then soaked a few towels and handed them out to be draped around the necks of the line cooks.
When we got a chance, we asked what he had used, and he brought us over a bottle of Florida Water to show us. He said it was an old kitchen trick he’d learned to help stay cool.
For Father’s Day, my girls got me my very own bottle of Florida Water, and I gave it a try while working in our greenhouse. I have to say that it did have a nice cooling effect, and as an added bonus, I didn’t stink so bad at the end of the day. It’s hard to pin down what it smells like. A little antiseptic, a little Brut 33, so being me, I had to do some research.
Turns out, Florida Water was created over 200 years ago as a competitor to Eau de Cologne from Europe. It seems that it may have been given the name Florida Water after our alleged Fountains of Youth in St. Augustine. Over the centuries it has been used as a cologne, laundry freshener, and to help with fevers and a variety of other maladies. Apparently, it has also come to be used in some magic as well.
Anyways, we had a great meal, and I learned a new way to beat the heat. Jumping in the pool is still my favorite, but when I can’t do that, you may find me with my bottle of Florida Water.
P.S. We hope you are looking forward to our upcoming Plants and Pets event, scheduled for 9am to 1pm on August 20, 2022. To celebrate the dog days of summer, bring your pets to the nursery, and we’ll have a pet photo booth for taking pictures, some refreshment stations for them, as well as learning stations for you about which plants are pet-friendly, both indoors and outdoors. Plus, we’ll have our Summer Yard Sale going on. We’re hoping it will be lots of fun for you and your furry friends.
