Garden & Patio Activities

Dining

• If you enjoy eating outdoors, your garden or patio is the ideal spot. You can take in the lovely view of your flowers, shrubs and trees as you dine and enjoy the warm weather. Depending on the size of your patio, you may be able to fit a table large enough to accommodate six to eight people, which is ideal for entertaining guests. There may also be room for a grill or outdoor kitchen, so you don't have to carry dishes all the way from the inside of your home to your patio. In a garden, you may only have space for a bistro-style table, which seats two people, but this allows for intimate dinners surrounded by your flowers. If there isn't room for a table on your patio or in the garden, spread a blanket on the grass and have an old-fashioned picnic.

Sunbathing

• In sunny areas of your garden or patio, you may enjoy setting up lounge chairs. They allow you to take in the sun and work on your tan. If you don't like the idea of lying in the sun, you can add a swing to catch a few rays. Another option for your garden is a bench, which not only provides a spot to sun but adds a charming decorative element as well. However, whenever you plan to spend time in the sun, be sure to wear sunscreen to protect yourself from dangerous UVA and UVB rays.

Bird Watching

• Given the natural scenery surrounding your patio or garden, it's an ideal spot for bird watching. To draw additional birds to your yard, consider adding a birdbath to your garden or the area surrounding your patio. Birdbaths come in a variety of styles and materials, but a cement or stone model is an ideal fit for a garden area. You can also add a bird feeder to a nearby tree to increase bird traffic. Bird watching can be a fun activity with your children because they often enjoy keeping a chart of all the different birds that appear.

Catching Fireflies

• Catching fireflies is another fun garden or patio activity to do with your children. When the weather warms, you'll likely notice all the glowing visitors to your garden. Children can have fun chasing after the fireflies in an attempt to catch them. However, these insects actually help get rid of other pests in your yard, so you don't want to deplete the population. Give your kids plastic containers with holes punched in the top so the fireflies will have air. Let the children collect as many as they like; a race to see how who can catch the most in a given period may be fun. At the end of the night, though, make sure they release the fireflies so the insects can go back to work eliminating your garden pests.