I have been on more garden tours than I can count over the past 20 or so years. I have seen contemporary gardens, country gardens, cottage gardens, shade gardens galore, ponds, fountains, every kind of plant and planting scheme imaginable. I am always struck by two very different things. First, no matter the style or plant material, I love them all. A garden is such a great place for exercise, creative expression, nourishment for body and soul and the optimal place for decompression. Everyone should have some sort of outside space that they can enjoy . Which leads me to the second thing……..there are never enough chairs.

I have walked around garden after garden that have  brought  me down path after path. Plants can be arranged beautifully, artwork is there for  enjoying ,or the view out into the countryside is stunning, but you have to stand. This always strikes me as so absolutely contrary to the whole point of creating such a special place. Why would anyone just stroll out past border after border (especially in the larger gardens) and not think,”Hey, wouldn’t a bench here be splendid?”

I don’t get it. Gardens are meant to be enjoyed , both from a distance and close up. Sitting outside watching the antics of birds or the grace of a  butterfly is better than Valium ( but not alcohol……..  sitting in the garden goes GREAT with alcohol).

You can plant your backside in a lot of locations here in the Burrow. Two of my favorites are the little deck off the kitchen for birdwatching and taking pictures and the front porch for coffee in the morning and  drinks and conversation in the evening. But even beyond the structures near the house, there is available seating in every garden you walk through.

The rock garden has a bench and chairs placed on either side of the path for chit-chatting. There are two Adirondacks in the back placed under a maple tree for a nice rest with great view.

Under the back arbor is a cement bench that is highly uncomfortable but will do if you need a quick rest after weeding , which you are welcome to do here at any time.

Two more Adirondacks flank the shed, and a longer bench under another maple rounds out the back.

In the dogs garden there are several small benches , and this larger one looks back toward the house.

There is also a comfy swing that we often sit on to coverse with the girls when they get home from school.

One more bench under yet another maple looks into the front garden and is now backed by a lilac hedge planted last weekend.

Most of the benches and  seats were bought at yard sales or flea markets , for very small sums, but they don’t feel like the cheap seats ( I couldn’t resist) when you  sit a spell and take in some scenery.

None of this is entertainment seating, that is all found inside the fence that goes around the pool  on a deck , in a gazebo and under a shade structure. It is all very choppy space under there and I wish I had planned it so large groups could gather in one place instead of 3 smaller areas, but it still works OK. Someday I would love to take down the deck and hardscape the whole area, but not until Bill forgets how much he spent on the new railings I begged for a few years  ago.

Take a good look at your outdoor space, and add a seat or two here and there. I know I would l be grateful to have one offered to me if I was touring your garden!