Play a game of snow golf — bury tin cans in the snow to be your holes. Measure your body with snowballs. Build a snow catapult with a piece of wood for launching snowballs.

For some water fun that doesn’t involve paying for a pool membership, set up a sprinkler in your yard. Put on bathing suits and run through it with your kids for an instant cool-off.

12.A hideaway hose holder to tidy up your yard (it's the little things). After watering all your thirsty plant babies, just reel it in via the easy-to-use hand crank.

Except—not always. There are certain landscaping features that can get your neighbors' feathers in a ruffle no matter hidden your backyard is.

Keep it low and manicured to show you understand what the culture is and that you’re intentional and taking care of your yard. And when you do that, nobody even notices. You don’t get cited.

And when you do that, nobody even notices. You don’t get cited. You get cited when you try to put a big meadow in your front yard because nobody’s used to that.

Line your sidewalk and your driveway with lawn, and have swaths of grass going through your property where you’re going to walk. Keep it low and manicured to show you understand what the culture is ...