Depending on your budget there are many things that are great additions to your yard. For you and your husband a built in BBQ would be great! For the kids putting greens, pools, spas, fire pits and fountains. Kids always love koi ponds!

I like this idea of a blackboard/chalkboard on the fence.


You could make your garden more interesting if you divide it up into different areas that are visually separated too. Using ornamental grasses (tall or lower species) or shrubs that can take the occasional football, you can create a more intimater area around the cubby house. Maybe give the kids their own little garden, let them grow some herbs and easy vegetables.




Idea for 'shaping' a garden:

Kids love water, so a kid friendly water feature could be nice:


Think of your garden as if it is part of your home. So don't just plonk things dotted around the space, but make a plan. Draw it on paper. What would be the most logical place for your husband's putting green, where would the trampoline go, what's the best spot for a BBQ. How do you go from one place to another, what do you see when you sit in your living room and look outside... Make it a logical place with nice shapes. Think about the vertical lines too. Everything is horizontal now. Ideally you could put a small tree somewhere maybe, to create interest and a bit of shade. Or a pergola that leads to one of the areas in the garden.
Plants will make it a softer, friendlier place.

:-)