Yard
Bocce or pétanque. Since these two European ball games have a similar look, they can be easily confused. Bocce originated in Italy and involves rolling balls down a smooth, flat court like the one shown here. Bocce is more widely known in the U.S. than pétanque, so you might find more friends who already know how to play. However, since the balls are rolled, you’ll need a really smooth, level court — and that can get expensive. Originally from France, pétanque uses slightly smaller balls than those used in bocce, and the balls are tossed down the court. Because the balls are tossed rather than rolled, the smoothness of the court is not as important, making pétanque a better option if you’re trying to rein in the budget — you can even use a lawn.
Volleyball or badminton. For active fun in the sun, consider adding a net. A similar setup can be used for volleyball and badminton — the height of a badminton net is lower, so if you are hoping to play both games with a single net, opt for one with an adjustable height. And with plenty of portable nets available, you don’t have to commit to a permanent setup to be able to play.
Croquet. If you’re looking for a backyard game that doesn’t need permanent dedicated space, croquet could be just the ticket — an entire croquet set can fit in a single (albeit heavy) bag. The game, which likely originated in the mid-1800s in the British Isles, is played by hitting a ball with a wooden mallet, aiming for a series of metal wickets. You will need a lawn to use as the playing field, and it works best if the grass is freshly mown.
Disc golf. Disc golf is played a lot like traditional golf, in that the goal is to complete each hole in the fewest number of tries. But instead of using golf clubs and balls, disc golf uses a disc or Frisbee, which is thrown to a target (like the elevated metal basket shown here). If you’re a disc golf fanatic, having a place to practice at home is a great way to have fun and hone your skills when you can’t get to a full course. If you have a large yard with some natural terrain, you could even install several targets to create your own mini course.
Pingpong. Table tennis is easy to learn but difficult to get really good at, which makes it a game that can be played and enjoyed by a wide range of ages and ability levels. Keep your pingpong table on hardscaping like a concrete or stone patio — if kept on grass, you’ll soon have a big rectangular dead spot in your lawn! Pingpong tables can also get damaged by weather extremes, so consider having your table put on casters to make it easier to roll into a garage or storage area to protect it when not in use.
Putting green. For a golfing enthusiast, having a home putting green is a great way to fit in more practice — but even those who wouldn’t normally go golfing can be tempted to pick up a putter. Work with a landscaping pro to design a putting green that fits in with the size and style of your home and yard. In the space shown here, night lighting was added so the homeowners can enjoy one last round as the sun goes down.
Classic or magnetic darts. Darts don’t have to be relegated to bars and garages — set up a dart zone outside and you’ll have built-in entertainment for your next barbecue. Be sure to use a large dart backboard to protect your wall, and choose a location for the dart game away from grills, fire pits and walkways.
Supersize Scrabble. Can’t get enough of the word lover’s classic board game? Bring it outdoors for summer with a supersize game board. A patio pro can help create and install a permanent setup like the mosaic tile design shown here. You can purchase the racks and letters, have them custom-made by a woodworker or re-create them as a DIY project if you have carpentry experience.
Tabletop tic-tac-toe. While the sleek set shown here is undeniably elegant, you can make your own outdoor tic-tac-toe set by painting the top of a table — or even a tree stump — with the basic game board grid. Draw X’s and O’s onto river stones using permanent marker, and your all-weather board will be waiting for you the next time you get the urge to play.
Yard Yahtzee. How does a game of yard Yahtzee sound? Use the scorecards from your regular-size Yahtzee set, but instead of tiny dice, use giant wood blocks. You can purchase a set of giant dice, or make it a DIY project by using wood blocks, permanent marker (or paint) and a circle stencil for making dots. Tip: Use a bucket to roll the dice!
I am about to "white wash" my white stucco house. We are doing it ourselves but you can find cement masons who will do this work. The "white wash" does not have to remain white however, there are pigments now that can be added to the mix to make it almost any color you'd like, except for soft yellow. The recipe is for two parts white portland cement and one part white hydrated lime-type S. Mix with water to make the mixture cream like in consistency. Add colored pigments if you'd like to. Be sure to mix each batch with equal amounts of each product to ensure color consistency. It can be sprayed on and back brushed to fill the little cracks and grooves or just brushed on. And seriously, the materials to do my 3 bedroom house cost less than $20!
Middlefork Development LLC Thank you. Yes, both levels are above grade. The lower level is permeable and was covered in bluestone pavers. The upper level is over the garage and is covered in a synthetic turf (Perfect Turf Inc.). The "raised" area on the right of the photo, covered in bluestone, is over an interior hallway connecting the garage to the lower level of the house.
Fence
"Soften a wall. Who can resist the beauty of a stone wall covered with a beautiful flowering rose? There are hundreds of climbing roses to choose from, with some, such as this ‘Lady Banks’, more disease-resistant than others. Some have scent, and many will repeat-flower or bloom for long periods if planted in the right position. Tip: Climbing roses need to be tied to their support structure (use flexible plant ties, soft string or even strips of pantyhose)."
"Create romance. Wisteria is another traditional favorite for adorning pergolas and walls, adding a romantic softness to the garden. Prized for its spectacular scented purple, pink or white flowers, wisteria is deciduous, hardy to frost and very long-lived. It can become rampant in some gardens, though, so choose your species carefully. Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) is a very vigorous variety, while cultivars of Japanese wisteria (W. floribunda) are said to behave better. Wisteria can also be trained as a standard, a good solution in small gardens"
"Make a pattern. Many climbers can be trained to grow around wires or other supports in patterns, creating a stunning focal point on a bare wall in the garden. Here, confederate jasmine has been trained to grow in a diamond pattern on the wall of this house in Melbourne, Australia."
"Install a Rain Garden Turn your landscape into an environmentally friendly habitat and cut down on your water bill by converting a section of your garden into a spot designed to catch and drain rain. Rain gardens are effectively dipped areas in the landscape designed to drain rainwater on site rather than having it run into the storm drain. In doing so, rain gardens deeply irrigate landscape trees and shrubs and also provide a temporary water source for visiting birds, frogs and insects."
Nice extra: Scoreboard. Whichever backyard games you prefer, consider making a scoreboard part of your yard design. A large chalkboard is a versatile option — it can be used to keep score of any sort of yard game and do double duty as a message board or kids’ art space between games.
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