BACKYARD IN SUMMER-Is it your vacation from the world?
 

How well do you use your backyard to escape this world and enjoy family, friends and leisure?

Toby, How did you know that is exactly how I feel about my backyard in summer. I live in upstate NY and truly enjoy the summer months in my backyard entertaining friends and familly nearly every weekend. Of course it helps that we have the only in-ground swimming pool in our circle of friends so they enjoy my backyard as well. Summer is short in our area and we always make the best of it. Winter is when we travel to warm destinations to get away from shoveling snow. I don't need to get away in the summer as I have my own retreat right in my backyard

Have a beautiful 3/4 acre fenced in back yard, cared for by a lawn service, neat as a pin, which I walk through maybe twice a year to pick up a branch which may fall off a tree in a rain storm (just being honest here). Picture perfect yard. I spend as amny weekends away from home travelling as time permits. And have no time during the week to hang out in the yard.

I'm in Nashville and have an expansive deck in our backyard... with about 50 potted flower pots on it! To include a bistro set and a bigger set of wrought-iron table & chairs. I practically live out there! Except now it's getting unbearably hot.

Toby, <BR> <BR>Why did you have to go and bring this up? Seriously though, great post--the travel component may be small, but so what. Right now we live in a condo with only a small patio, and the sounds of fairly constant traffic probably drive off all of the wildlife that would otherwise be here. <BR> <BR>But your post brought back memories of the great backyard and screened porch we enjoyed at our former residence. Sitting on the porch in June or July at dusk, with the humidity pretty much tamed, lightning bugs on display, birds feeding in the birdbath, rabbits occasionally crossing the yard near our privacy fence, squirrels playing, wathcing a beautiful sunset . . . Now those were some great backyard summer days. Makes me realize my huge mistake in moving to a condo to escape the yardwork. Hope to correct that mistake in the not too distant future.

If I had a backyard, I bet I would use it to escape all the time. But I don't, just a crappy deck, so I am suffering from backyard envy.

95 degress and humid here, not going outside until October. <BR> <BR>Gladly give you my yard (and yard work) during the summers Ilisa. Nothing like getting outside and weeding at 6 a.m. and mowing at 8 a.m. to beat the heat of the day. <BR> <BR>I want the yard back between October and April, but otherwise it's yours.

The perfect escape is sitting on the swing in the backyard with my sweetie, watching the fireflies glow, the moon and the stars shine and smelling the sweet smell of flowers....

I live in a small townhouse in the middle of DC. We were looking mostly at condos, but bought this place partially because it has a backyard measuring about 14 by 40 feet. This is very small by most standards, but a treat for my area. I thought we would use the yard a lot. We do use the yard some, but not nearly as much as I expected: 1) there are loads of mosquitos much of the time, and 2) the yard is sourrounded by a 6 foot fence, and when I am back there, I sort of feel enclosed. I often prefer to sit on the front steps, where I can see some open space..there is a school yard directly across the street, and I can see people walk by. <BR> <BR>Still I am glad I have the yard. We cook out there maybe 12 times a year, and I am out there some..maybe 4 hours a week.

I live in a small townhouse in the middle of DC. We were looking mostly at condos, but bought this place partially because it has a backyard measuring about 14 by 40 feet. This is very small by most standards, but a treat for my area. I thought we would use the yard a lot. We do use the yard some, but not nearly as much as I expected: 1) there are loads of mosquitos much of the time, and 2) the yard is sourrounded by a 6 foot fence, and when I am back there, I sort of feel enclosed. I often prefer to sit on the front steps, where I can see some open space..there is a school yard directly across the street, and I can see people walk by. <BR> <BR>Still I am glad I have the yard. We cook out there maybe 12 times a year, and I am out there some..maybe 4 hours a week.

Backyard used to be my escape until the new neighbors moved in last year. They have three young girls who have a lot of friends. Every damn day and night they scream, shriek and blare teen music. If only this were like the movie "Mars Attacks" and I could play Slim Whitman music till their heads exploded. <BR> <BR>My salvation now is to drag my lounger to the driveway. Not as comfy, but I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it. <BR> <BR>Neighbors have bought/sold fixer-uppers over the years; we pray they start searching for another. <BR>

American woman, why not play good old slim. I bet their heads would explode!!!!

Ain't it the truth, Emmy? The best part about that 95 degree summer yard work is the gnats.

Hey American Woman...you cracked me up with your post. <BR>My mother had a very nice backyard until the kids moved into the house behind hers. Now it's very noisy, not to mention the trampoline they jump on to look into her yard, so no privacy either! <BR> <BR>I have a nice large deck in my backyard overlooking Lake Travis. The house sits in such a way that we do not get the full west sun in the afternoon, so it's shaded. No matter how hot it is, we spend alot of time out on that deck!

Lest everyone gets the idea that only children can wreck backyard use: My fairly new next door neighbor sticks up the air all day long with his cheapo cigars AND he spies on us through the cracks in the fence. eeeuuuww. It's not likely that he'll see anything of interest it's just a huge invasion of privacy. In the section of fence by the pool we have nailed a second fence over the first one to cover the cracks.

My wife, 3 toddlers and I live on two acres just off the Wye River on Maryland's eastern shore. We have a very large deck connected to the house and several dozen large trees to give us plenty of privacy. Tonight I'll have a beer while I watch the kids frolic in the baby pool and cold hot tub. My wife will make a delicious salad and I'll cook up the filet mignons on the grill. After the kids are abed, my wife and I might have a glass of wine together and hold hands on the little outdoor sofa. Afterwards, we might go inside for a little recreation ... or maybe we''l recreate a little by the moonlight in the delightfully crisp false autumn night air.

I always thought I wanted a backyard, as I grew up with a big yard. So moved into a house with a yard. BIG HUGE mistake. What a nightmare! Mowing it in 90 degree heat when you're 30 is a lot different than mowing it during a pleasant northern PA summer day when you're 15. Plus the bugs, etc. <BR> <BR>Now, I live in a townhouse with my little 4x20 deck, and I'm perfectly content. <BR> <BR>Hey, Emmy, I know it's hot, but PLEASE stop mowing your lawn at 8 a.m. I'm still asleep! <BR> <BR>Roger, get ahold of yourself.

Everything on my screen after the word "Roger" is all steamed up. What's it say?

Good question Toby, the answer is not as much as we should. My husband "uses" it more than any of us but he's more likely maintaining it than enjoyeing it. We have a beautiful 2 acre property with lots of flower beds, a big terrace and a big deck. Unfortunately all things thing mean weeding, watering, sweeping and then there's the never ending battle with our nemesis, the deer, or as we call them, the anti-christ in bambi clothing. If anyone lives in an area where the deer seem to outnumber people, you know about our never ending battle. Those cute little monsters ravage everything and have literally cost thousands in damage to plants. If you look closely you can see the netting covering all the shrubs and flowers. That and nonstop spraying take up much of our leisure time! <BR>When not running after deer we do entertain about 7 times a summer. We have Tiki torches, 4 big tables, market umbrellas, bocci, horseshoes and an enormous stainless steel trough that we fill with liquid refreshments. These parties are a lot of fun. Now if I could just convince my husband to put in a pool . . . .

PottingFool, you're a person after my own heart! Hubby and I live in an apartment, but we're lucky to have a huge balcony and are situated in a semi-quiet part of the complex. I've got about a a dozen pots with herbs, 2 tomato plants, and 2 hanging baskets with flowers out there. We also have a grill that we use a lot and 2 chairs to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet in the evenings. I feel like it's my little tranquil garden to enjoy reading or to have a conversation with a friend. Good question, Toby!