Meyer Lemonade w/ Rosemary + Thank You Sunset Magazine
This meyer lemonade recipe was originally published in 2011. It’s an oldie but goodie! 
Meyer Lemonade Recipe
It’s been almost 15 years ago since we had our first conversation about growing a garden together. It’s been that long? We still can’t believe it. Back then, our garden inventory was a mere small handful of terra cotta pots filled with herbs on a tiny balcony of a second story apartment. We were only able to occupy half of that balcony because we shared the apartment with two other roommates. So, our personal space back then was one bedroom, a shared bathroom, kitchen and half a balcony.
Compared to what we have growing now, we had very little back then. But we always dreamed big because of what our monthly issue of Sunset Magazine inspired us to what we “can do” with our small space and if we had just a bit more yardage, of what we “could do”. Well, we found our space, filled it with 38 fruit trees and continually played in the dirt. But never ever in our wildest dreams would we ever believe that we would find ourselves and reading about ourselves in Sunset Magazine, the exact publication that continually encouraged and inspired us to grow more and live green. It’s surreal and strange to see our faces in the very magazine that inspired our garden to grow and flourish to become what it is today.
Feature in Sunset Magazine!
So it’s here, the February 2011 issue of Sunset Magazine and we’re on pages 50 and 87. There isn’t just one, but two stories about our garden citrus in this issue and it’s too overwhelming for us to even comprehend how this all happened. We’re still in shock and often shy about it all. In fact, they even used our photographs of the detailed fruit that we shot in the story. Double shock treat omg wow!
All we can say right now (or shout) is a huge THANK YOU to all the editors at Sunset Magazine, Senior Garden writer Sharon Cohoon and photographer Andrea Gomez for championing our humble citrus garden in this month’s issue. And to all of you readers and friends who have supported us on this blog, we thank you profusely.
We’re thrilled, excited, in shock and even more humbled by this whole experience. You all made our wildest garden dreams come true!
To celebrate and keep in theme with the citrus sunset stories, we made some refreshing meyer lemonade. The floral qualities of meyer lemons brighten up the classic lemonade with a floral twist. With an added sprig of fresh rosemary, this wonderful meyer lemonade becomes extra special, delicate and fragrant for such a joyous occasion. Make sure you slice up the meyer lemon rinds and infuse in the lemonade. The flavor will pop, and make this a drinkable meyer lemon candy.
Thank you to every single one of you!
Much love and gratitude,
-Todd and Diane
You can read one of the stories here, at Sunset.com. For the 2nd story, you’ll just have to buy the February 2011 issue. But also included are our some of our favorite citrus recipes! 😀
our meyer lemons are finally ripe for this meyer lemonade recipe
a touch of rosemary, one sprig is plenty, makes this lemonade outstanding
Check out our Cocktail Recipes Here and our Complete Whiskey Guide. 

Meyer Lemonade with Rosemary Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (120ml) fresh Meyer Lemon Juice
- 1 cup (240ml) Simple Syrup *recipe follows
- 4 cups (960ml) Water
- a couple sprigs of fresh Rosemary , for garnish
Instructions
- Combine meyer lemon juice, simple syrup, and water in a pitcher, adding in a few freshly squeezed rinds of the Meyer lemons. Stir to combine
- Chill until ready to serve. Serve over ice with fresh rosemary sprigs if desired.
Notes
Simple Syrup
This is our basic simple syrup recipe. We'll often make variations by substituting palm sugar or agave nectar for some of the sugar or by infusing ginger or mint into the syrup when boiling. They are great for making your own sodas with a soda water. Simple syrup keeps very well, usually for months if your storage jar is sterile before filling. Makes about 3 cups.- 2 cups (480ml) Water
- 2 cups (400g) Sugar
Simple Syrup Directions
- Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Stir and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 15-20 seconds then take off the heat.
- Allow to cool then store in a sterile jar in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information per Serving
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After three different stores (yup, THREE!!) I finally got my hands on a copy of the magazine!!!
Absolutely beautiful!! Truly wish I had your gift for gardening – as the granddaughter of a professional gardener, it’s rather embarrassing – evidently the “green thumb” skipped my generation!!!
Congrats on being featured and twice in Sunset. We don’t get the mag in India, but I do have one of their very old books on dessert & ♥ it. This is yet another gorgeous post. You never cease to amaze!
Congratulations on the feature!
I just finished reading the Sunset article yesterday!!! Your photographs in the article are simply beautiful, and I was amazed (and jealous) to learn you had a whopping 38 fruit trees! Like you have experienced in the past, having only a small apartment balcony doesnt really fulfill too many garden dreams; but, your prolific yard now gives me inspiration for the future. 🙂 Great lemonade recipe, and great article in Sunset.
I have this issue, was surprised and delighted to see you in it and after my recent ‘virgin’ Meyer lemon experience am so envious of your tree crop. A friend in California sent me a box of lemons from her tree and I spent the first couple of days just enjoying the aroma of them sitting on my desk.
But when I did make something…it was Meyer lemon and rosemary bars, so I can well imagine this drink and am wishing even more I had my own tree. Our weather in Denver is not conducive to citrus so I’m remain a fan from afar but now know intimately when you speak Meyer of just what that means!
I love stories like yours and I love what goes around comes around. I wish I was your “neighbor”. In my part of Texas growing citrus is not that easy. I have ONE meyer lemon tree and it is planted in a pot. I pamper it – I baby it and I was graced with ONE lemon this year. I have watched it dutifully so I could let my young grandson have the pleasure of picking the lemon. Alas, a pesky squirrel took the honors and the lemon. All I got for my labors this year was a headache and raised blood pressure. I will have to see if Whole Foods has meyer lemons to try your lemonade. I am fairly new to your blog, but have to say that I enjoy your writing styles as much as the pictures that you post that the two of you have taken. You both give your readers much pleasure.
I picked up a copy of that Sunset issue last week and was so thrilled to see the two of you and your beautiful garden. Two wonderful stories and plenty of inspiration.
It’s so heart-warming to know your garden dreams came true. Congratulations! I would be disappointed if the Sunset magazine didn’t use your own images. Love that they did. A great garden story to read. All the best.
what a beautiful, inspiring post & love the Sunset spread! I’m tempted to try growing a citrus tree in a container & bringing it in for the winter here in Kentucky. Just may do it yet!
I have been reading Sunset since I was in middle school and owe much of my love for gardening, cooking, and travel to the magazine. It was beyond awesome to see you in the February issue! Your garden sparkles and you both should be so proud!
Congratulations! You guys completely deserve it, I’m so proud and happy for you! ^_^
It was so exciting to see the two of you in my issue of Sunset! Such a great magazine. You guys definitely deserve it. Congrats!
HUGE congrats to you guys! beautiful feature- this is so exciting!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! No one deserves it like you two. I’m SO proud of you guys – not just for Sunset, but for everything you do with such dedication, talent, love, and conviction. xo
Congrats on the publication! That lemonade screams Summer! I can’t wait 🙂
Congrats! And your lemonade sounds fantastic.