Throughout much of the country, the end of summer typically triggers the biggest heat wave of the year. At the height of a heat wave, everything can be impacted in some way − the air we breathe, the plants we grow, and the grass we walk on. Even our moods are affected. And, everywhere you turn, you’re told to mind your water usage. This only makes the extreme heat even…
Ring toss is a fun summer recreational activity. It is simple to play and can provide a family with hours of fun. The Basics: Toss the ring onto the peg—sounds easy, but it is not. Each player is given 5 plastic rings to use during gameplay. The player may toss or flip the rings one at a time onto the pegs. A ring that lands completely around a peg, scores…
It is estimated games with Horseshoes started as early as the 2nd century. Modern Horseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people (or two teams of two people) using four horseshoes and two throwing targets (stakes). Players take turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40-feet apart. Modern games use a more stylized U-shaped bar, about twice the size of an actual horseshoe. In…
Lawn bowling involves rolling slightly asymmetric balls, called bowls, close to a smaller—normally white—bowl called the “jack” or “kitty.” Lawn bowling is usually played outdoors on grass or synthetic surfaces. Lawning bowling, related to Bocce Ball, has been traced back to 13th century England. Lawn bowl is usually played on a large, rectangular, precisely leveled and manicured grass or synthetic surface known as a bowling green which is divided into parallel…
Hooverball is a medicine ball game invented by President Herbert Hoover’s personal physician to help keep then-President Hoover fit. In general, the game is played on a volleyball-type court of grass or sand and involves throwing a heavily weighted medicine ball over the net. Officially, in Hooverball, the medicine ball weighs about 6 lb (2.7 kg) and is thrown over an 8 ft (2.4 m) volleyball-type net. The game is…
Disc golf is a game in which players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. The object is similar to regular golf, the player with the fewest number of throws wins. Modern disc golf started in the late 1960s. Disc golf is usually played in a public park, so players have to beware of bicyclists, hikers, children playing, and campers that may be on the course….
You don’t have to go any further than your backyard to enjoy the outdoors. Pitch a tent, unroll your sleeping bags (or use blankets, air mattresses and pillow), and enjoy barbecuing, roasting marshmallows, making s’mores, singing songs, and telling ghost stories. Don’t forget the insect repellent!
Brown Patch This disease is prevalent during moist, hot weather on over-fertilized lawns. Brown patch, also known as rhizoctonia blight, is most active when grass remains wet and temperatures reach 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Look for: Dark, water-soaked looking grass turning into browned-out circular areas several inches to several feet in diameter. Some green leaves may persist within the patch, and roots remain intact. In addition, blades may have irregular…