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To sit for a bit

Nothing humanizes a garden space so much as a spot to sit. Whether it’s functional or decorative, a chair or bench signifies that this is a corner to... pause.
A single bench in a shady nook is a place for reflection. A lounger in the sun puts one in mind of a healthy vitamin bath. A couple of chairs is a quiet conversation and chairs with a table set the stage for a meal with family and good friends.
Put seating in areas where people would want to sit: under an arbour or next to a pond or facing the garden, for example. Put lots of pots on the patio to scent, soften and enliven the setting.
A design mistake some gardeners make is to put a pass-through arbour to nowhere into a garden border; fix this flaw by setting a rustic bench or chair on the other side of the arbour. Suddenly a path to noweher becomes a path to something special.

*Originally published on Ontario Gardener 2007 Annual issue