Benches and chairs make gardens both comfortable and inviting. We need places to sit and stop for a minute or two, to take a drink or have a snack, or just look at the scenery. I’m always interested in the way outdoor furniture can harmonize with the setting or match the style of the client. Of course looking at other gardens always gives me inspiration - hopefully you’ll be inspired to add more seating to your own outdoor rooms this year.
Above: This rustic bench at the Native Plant Trust blends beautifully with the woodland setting and allows a spot for quiet contemplation amid ferns. One-of-a-kind pieces like these are sculptures in their own right.
Above and below: Adirondack style chairs set on a lawn looking out to the fields are easy to move before and after mowing. Wide arm rests let you set down a book and a beverage which is a bonus!
Why not have a little fun with color?
Look at how the chairs visually connect the eye to the flower beds filled with orange and red daylilies, fuscia coneflowers, deep cherry snapdragons, and orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Bang!
Above: At Rocky Dale Gardens in Bristol, VT you can saunter the grounds and pick up ideas from their gorgeous gardens - like this small elevated seating area with a rock garden edge that’s filled with unusual dwarf plants. Check out the great chairs and the way they welcome you to sit.
Above: spiky purple salvia ‘Amisted’ and small globe allium combine beautifully with these royal blue chairs and boulders at Montreal Botanic Gardens.
Above: Porches are made for sitting - a small space like this is made welcoming with comfortable pillow accents and potted plants (and a table for that end-of-garden-cleanup gin and tonic).
Below: I’ve always loved this combination of a rocking chair with a pretty blue and white vase full of hydrangeas photographed at a client’s home. Rockers are a natural pick for covered porches.
Above: Did you see Downton Abbey on PBS? It was filmed at Highclere Castle, a 5,000 acre estate in Hampshire UK with lovely gardens. While visiting on a recent trip I spotted this teak bench literally surrounded with sumptuous hydrangea blooms - a great place to escape the crowds!
Sometimes you need a place to tie a shoelace, reapply sunscreen, or just sit with your face in the sun on a blustery cool day.
Above: At Bartholdi Park, part of the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., a small terrace built off the main path encourages visitors to take a break.
Bistro seating is portable, casual, and affordable, and you can move things around to best suit your preference for shade or sun.
Above: At the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, lightweight but sturdy (and stackable) metal chairs are easily moved around for best garden viewing. Paris is full of portable outdoor seating!
Above: Formal gardens like this one at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia showcase period styles like this bench which offers a much-needed spot of shade.
Finally, don’t forget comfort. The chaise lounge is a classic for true relaxation and can be dressed up to coordinate with surrounding plantings. I love how this pillow picks up the muted violets of the Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia). Now hand me a cool drink, please.