Jane Hudson's five fresh things for summer

1. June is National Iced Tea Month, especially here in eastern North Carolina! In honor of the celebration, mix up a sugary pitcher full of the South's favorite beverage, squeeze in a bit of fresh lemon or orange juice and pour it over ice cubes in a tall glass. Sip. Then crank up one of my favorite songs of summer, "Sweet Tea" by South Carolina band Cravin' Melon. It's on their 1997 album "Red Clay Harvest."

2. I love to watch the lightning bugs twinkle in the evening shade. Did you know that the male fireflies flash in a particular pattern to attract a female? Works for me.

3. I wait all year for homegrown tomatoes! Nothing tastes better — on a sandwich, a salad, in a pasta sauce. Each year I plant several varieties of tomatoes in my backyard and reap the fruit all summer long.

4. My favorite scent of the summer is honeysuckle. I have found a Sparkling Honeysuckle Eau de Toilette by Mary Kay ($25) that lets me smell like summer all year. I also burn honeysuckle-scented candles by Trapp or Yankee Candle.

5. My mother used to make me a "play dress" every summer — a breezy cotton sundress that was easy to slip on and comfortable to wear. This summer, I'd love to have this Michael Kors sundress!

— Jane Hudson