Come sit for a while

My 'reading' room

Wrought iron chair

"Every garden needs a place where you can just sit and listen to the leaves" 

  I love summer mornings where I can take my coffee and sit outside. It's a great time to have a look at the garden, see what needs to be done that day and to just sit and enjoy the garden. I usually do this sitting on the deck in a swivel rocking chair, it has shade at that time of day and I can see most of the yard

Deck bench

  When planning my garden I wanted to make sure there were areas to sit, little nooks so to speak where I can sit and enjoy the view.
  Also seeing it from different vantage points gives you a better idea of how everything is working together. What looks good from one spot may not work from another. Certain plants or a small tree may be too tall or short, they may be blocking the view of something you wanted as a focal point.

  So walk around your yard,  have a good look around before deciding where you would like to sit and what you might be doing in that area. Is it a spot to just relax, is it going to be where you sit to have your coffee in the morning or an evening drink. When does the sun hit that spot, morning or the afternoon? Consider how private it is if you are looking to tuck yourself away.
  I have a great swinging 'egg' chair that I can curl up in and read or just while away the hours enjoying the birds, out of view surrounded by my garden.

'Egg' chair

'Zen' garden bench

 My 'Zen' garden has a bench that adds character to the garden as well as a place to sit and relax for a moment. Although this is not a bench built for comfort it provides you with a place to sit for a moment of peace and contemplation. It is a perfect spot first thing in the morning when it is quiet and peaceful or early evening when the air is getting cooler and the day is slowing down.

  When I was in Maine earlier this summer I came across a beautiful garden bench. It was in a lovely library garden in Camden. The bench was surrounded by garden on the outside and a small courtyard in the centre. This is a perfect spot to sit and enjoy their garden or flip through the pages of a book you just checked out of the library.
  I love, love this bench. Unfortunately I couldn't take it home.

Library bench in Camden

  So take a moment to plan so that all your moments spent relaxing, enjoying your surroundings are quiet, peaceful times. If for no other reason but to take a moment in the day and enjoy the beauty of nature, your efforts will be worth it.
 There are no rules, find your spot, take a break and listen to the leaves.

Happy Gardening!

Library bench in Camden