The sounds of a summer picnic

Published 3:50 pm Friday, July 17, 2015

Seize the summer. It’s a sentiment we feel with some urgency as we cram in trips to the pool and rush around packing for vacations. Marnie Hanel, co-author of “The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration From Basket to Blanket,” suggests the best way to enjoy warm days is to have a picnic.

For her, nothing sets the mood for a picnic like sound — whether it’s the chirping of bugs and birds or the beat of your favorite jams. Play your favorite summer mix outdoors via Bluetooth on the portable, waterproof UE Roll ($100, www.ultimateears.com). The Roll comes with nine-hour battery and a loop for hanging anywhere — even a tree.

For more on the perfect picnic, see Page D3.

— Lindsey M. Roberts, Special to The Washington Post