Strawberry Cucumber Infused Water

Gardening often means spending long stretches outdoors, making sun protection and hydration especially important due to our high humidity and summertime temperatures above 90 F. Overexposure to UV rays can lead to sunburn and eye damage and increases your risk of developing skin cancer. UV rays are present even on cloudy days and can reflect off surfaces like water, sand, concrete and grass. That is why practicing sun safety and hydration is important all year long but especially in the summer.

Along with applying sunscreen and wearing protective clothing, gardeners should take a few extra precautions to stay safe and comfortable while working in the yard or garden:

• Garden early or late in the day. Try to work before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. when UV rays are less intense.
• Wear lightweight, breathable long sleeves and pants. This protects your skin without causing overheating.
• Choose a wide brimmed hat. Larger brims provide better coverage for your face, ears and neck than a baseball cap.
• Use gardening gloves with UV protection. Hands are often forgotten and can burn easily.
• Take frequent shade breaks. Set up a shaded rest area or use natural shade from trees or structures.
• Stay hydrated. Heat and sun exposure increase dehydration risk. Keep a water bottle nearby.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours. This is especially important when sweating heavily during outdoor work.
• Use lip balm with SPF. Lips can burn quickly while gardening.
• Protect your eyes. Wear wrap-around sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays. Lenses that block 100% of the rays are preferred but any percentage is good.

Understanding Sunscreen Labels

Sunscreen can seem confusing, but the labels tell you exactly what the product is designed to do. The sun protection factor, or SPF number, tells you the level of protection against UVB rays, which cause sunburn.

• SPF 15 is the minimum recommendation for most people.
• Fair skinned individuals should choose SPF 30 or higher.
• Always select sunscreen labeled “broad spectrum,” which protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
• To get the maximum benefit from sunscreen, apply at least 20-30 minutes before going outdoors and daily, especially in the summer. If you are going to sweat, try to use water-resistant sunscreen so it repels water. Reapply every 90-120 minutes after excessive sweating to ensure proper skin protection.

Once you have finished gardening or working outdoors, go inside and cool off and rehydrate with these garden-fresh, infused water recipes. Remember to drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water per day. When working outside, take water breaks often to ensure you do not risk getting dehydrated or experience heat or sun exhaustion/stroke. Regular water breaks are also a suitable time to reapply sunscreen and grab some shade as well. The following infused water recipes were featured at the 2025 Garden Field Days in Crowley and St. Gabriel, Louisiana.

Lime Watermelon Infused Water

Ingredients:

• 1 lime
• 1 cup watermelon
• 8 cups cold water

Directions:

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Wash the produce.
3. Slice lime and cut watermelon into 1-inch cubes.
4. Add lime and watermelon to a pitcher and cover with 8 cups cold water.
5. Chill overnight in the refrigerator. The fruit will stay fresh in the water for up to 48 hours.

Other flavor options:

• Use 1/2 sliced cucumber and 1 sliced lemon or lime.

Serving size: 8 ounces
Yield: 8 servings

Strawberry Cucumber Infused Water

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup strawberries
• 1 cucumber, small
• 4 cups cold water

Directions:

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Wash all fresh produce before slicing. You can use fresh, frozen or canned fruit based on cost or availability.
3. Slice fresh produce into thin slices.
4. Place strawberries and cucumber slices into pitcher with cold water and mix.
5. Ideally, chill in the refrigerator overnight, though it can be enjoyed immediately after preparing. The fruit will stay fresh in the water for up to 48 hours.
6. After the water has been finished, you can eat the fruit or blend it into a smoothie.

Serving size: 8 ounces
Yield: 4 servings