If exploration is appealing, there are a number of interesting day trips to be had an hour's drive or less from downtown Ottawa. Within minutes, tourists can visit Gatineau Park, an historic and scenic wilderness area that provides thousands of visitors and especially camera buffs, with spectacular views of the surrounding lakes and countryside throughout the year. The park is also the ideal spot to participate in all forms of outdoor recreation including swimming, hiking, snowshoeing, rock climbing and cross-country and downhill skiing.

TIPS FOR CONSERVING WATER

* Mulch your plants.
* Install a rain barrel and use the water collected on your plants.
* Divert downspout run-off into a rain barrel or onto the lawn.
* Keep grass high (about seven
centimetres), only removing the top third at each mowing, and leave grass clippings on your lawn.
* Plant drought-resistant species.
* Install a drip irrigation system or use a soaker hose to deliver water to the roots of plants.

HOW GREEN IS YOUR VALLEY?

Most lawn-care experts suggest that 2.5 centimetres of water once a week will keep your grass green. Providing that much water takes one to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the type of sprinkler you have. Water evaporates quicker at higher temperatures, so the sprinkler may have to run for more than three hours to ensure the lawn actually receives 2.5 centimetres of water on hot summer days.

Keep in mind that sprinklers use between 1,000 and 1,300 litres of water per hour. During a hot, dry summer, lawns naturally go dormant and turn brown due to the lack of moisture. They’ll turn green again with a bit of rain and cooler temperatures, so perhaps it’s time to reconsider how our lawns should look in August.