There’s nothing quite as blissful as the return of longer, warmer days; once again, we can enjoy the outdoors in comfort. To get the maximum benefit, you need to have an outdoor hangout spot you absolutely love, a place that lends itself to meditating, reading, socializing, and just stretching out in the good fresh air. This is the perfect time to spruce up your yard and garden, so here are some ideas that will pay for themselves in sheer delight.
This is the perfect time to spruce up your yard and garden.
top it off
Research possible ways of rainproofing part of your outdoor space, whether it’s a canopy, a screen house, or a full-on shed roof. This will allow you to spend time outdoors even on rainy days—there’s nothing like the sound of warm spring rain to enchant a book, a long talk or a catnap—and give you extra shade in the warmer parts of the day. If you decide on a hard roof, think about adding a solar panel or two to keep any outdoor devices or equipment charged up without adding a penny to your electric bill.
color it up
Get some native perennial flower seeds. There are sun mixes and shade mixes that’ll thrive in various spots, so turn up some dirt—you’ll want to break up clods and remove weeds and roots—and scatter those beauties everywhere. Native seed mixes are naturally pest- and drought-resistant; all you need to do after scattering is rake them in a bit and do an initial watering—after which they will thrive and reseed themselves into a carpet of colors each year.
add the element of fire
Honestly, this can be as simple as a ring of good-sized stones to keep your coals contained or as fancy as a full-on outdoor kitchen. Between those extremes there are nearly infinite choices of firepits, from DIY designs to prefab ones in a wide variety of designs and at a wide range of price points. Watching flames is good for your head.
water feature!
This can be a reflective pool or fountain, a hot tub or spa, even a kiddie pool to cool your tired tootsies. There are even a lot of intriguing DIY instructions out there for building your own wood-fired “hillbilly hot tub” using a stock-watering tank.
host our winged neighbors
If your yard’s not overrun with cats, consider installing a bird bath and a bird feeder. You’ll want to do this thoughtfully; wildlife experts say that the most danger to birds arises when a feeder is between 15-30 feet of a glass window, so go closer or farther than that, and clean both facilities every couple of weeks to protect against infections. You can also just plant some things birds will especially adore, such as sunflowers. Birds and butterflies alike love to visit lilac, lavender, and rosemary, all of which also add bonus aromatherapy points.
plant yourself some snacks!
Cherry tomatoes and cucumber vines will grow nicely in containers, giving you easy access to sun-ripened nutrition straight from the plant—all you really need is a napkin and a salt-shaker or a favorite dip on your hammock-side table. Early spring is also a fine time to start some native raspberries and/or blackberries for still more future fruit. Some say blackberries tend to take over—others say there is nothing wrong with too many blackberries.
let there be light!
Solar LED lights come in a vast array of colors and design options these days, and are built to withstand the weather. Install a solar LED next to a reflective gazing ball for a deliciously mind-melting evening focal point.
