11 Alternative Garden Games

Tired of the same ol', same ol' when it come toEquipment required: A stagnant water source
entertaining your garden party guests? Weary ofsuch as a neglected pool, pond or bucket. Kids
boring badminton and jarts? Croquet not yourlove this one!
style? Then you're in the right spot! Here are
games sure to make your next party the hit ofThe winner is whoever come up with the largest
the gardening social season!Icebreakerswater strider. Incentive for the competitively
spirited: Anyone bobbing to the bottom retrieving
Game #1: The Gnat Slapthe hapless mouse that slipped in about a month
ago qualifies for the National Bobb-Off!
Equipment required: A garden of any size.
Game #7: Slug Races
As your guests arrive, invite them for theEquipment required: A slug for each guest.
obligatory 'stroll through the garden'. Tell them
they are welcome to slap the gnats but onlyWe suggest two events: The 4" sprint and the
those gnats annoying another guest; never are2-foot marathon. Guests may mark their slugs in
they permitted to slap gnats hovering aroundany way they wish.
their own eyes, nose, ears or mouth. The winnerTip 1: Use an air-horn to signify the start of the
is the last guest standing. A great icebreaker!races. Slugs are hard of hearing.
Game #2: The 3-Legged Butterfly ChaseTip 2: Entrants in the "Watch the Lawn Go
Dormant" game can play this game
Equipment required: Rope or wire to bind legs.simultaneously.
This is lots of fun. Tightly bind two guests' legsGame #8: Hornet's Nest Pinata
together to make a three-legged contestant.
Then tell them you'll unbind them only afterEquipment required: 1 large hornet's nest, a stick
they've captured a butterfly.long enough to reach the nest, a blindfold.
Tip: For a longer lasting game, declare the quarry
to be a hummingbird.This game really livens things up after the slower
pace of the slug races and helps work off dinner.
Game #3: Competitive Weed Pulling
Game #9: Blindfolded Lawn Mowing
Equipment required: Weeds of any kind.
Equipment required: A power mower and the
This is a great game to reward the hard workingblindfold from the Hornet's Nest Pinata game if it
guest. Entrants don't eat until the entire garden isisn't too bloody.
cleaned of weeds. Winner: The person with the
most weeds eats first and most, and so on downEveryone loves this sport! One by one guests
the line. This game teaches the rewards of theare blindfolded and told to mow the grass. The
Puritan work ethic.winner is the contestant who runs over the
fewest trees, shrubs, flowers, pets and other
Game #4: The Wasp Dodgeguests. Lotsa laughs!
Time Saving tip: Dial 911 before the game begins.
Equipment required: More wire for binding, an
in-ground wasp nest or two (Yellow Jackets are
the best!), a small amount of kerosene.Games for After Dark
With hands tightly wired behind their backs, haveGame #10: Firefly Shooting
your players stand in a circle around a wasp nestEquipment required: A BB gun for everyone.
entrance. Irritate the wasps by sprinkling a little
kerosene over the hole and oh, boy! Stand back!After a fun day of activities and food, gather
Entrants are judged on style, grace, self-defensiveeveryone in the center of the garden in a large
acrobatic movements and number of stings.circle to try their hand at nailing a few fireflies.
The winner, and don't expect one, is anyone who
Games to Play While the Frozen Turkey Cooksactually knocks a lightening bug out of the
on the Charcoal Grillsky.Time Saving tip: Dial 911 before the game
begins.
Game #5: Watch the Lawn Go Dormant
Game #11: Feed the Mosquitos
Equipment required: A dry turf.
Equipment required: Go figure.
This is for those guests that had a poor showing
in the other games. The winner is the person stillPlay this last game while lingering over
awake when the lawn is actually declared"good-byes" in the garden.When Tom Schneider
dormant.isn't trying to find new guests to invite to his
garden parties, he and his wife Deb are busy with
Game #6: Bobbing for Aquatic Insectstheir on-line machine embroidery design business,
WindstarEmbroidery.