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Garden Benches - What They Are
By Jennifer Akre
Putting in a flower garden or any garden for that matter
takes time and dedication. However, the result is
gorgeous color, magnificent fragrance, wonderful foods
to eat, and an overall sense of accomplishment.
Therefore, why stand back and admire your garden from
afar when you can use a garden bench to be closer. The
great thing about garden benches is that they can be any
size and made from just about any material. For example,
a garden bench can be made from scrap wood lying around
the house, logs, wrought iron, concrete blocks, marble,
rock, granite, railroad ties, and so on. You could
easily take a few pieces of old scrap lumber or a nice
big log and create a quiet place to sit. If you want
something more elaborate for your garden bench, you can
purchase one already made or have one built.
The goal with any garden bench is to create a place of
solitude, a place where you can sit and relax to enjoy
the beauty of your garden. If you look at the Japanese
garden, there are garden benches throughout so people
can rest and meditate as they look at the flowers or
listen to the flowing water. That same concept has been
recreated in gardens of all types across the country.
The key is to remember that when choosing or making your
garden bench, it does not have to be perfect. After all,
you want the garden bench to blend in with the garden or
at least enhance its natural beauty. Therefore, while
you might find something colorful and over the top, take
time to consider your garden and how you want the bench
to look.
When choosing a garden bench, remember that certain
woods do not withstand the outside elements well. You
will do well choosing cedar, teak, cypress, and
mahogany, for instance. Another option, although some
people believe it takes away from the natural look is a
wrought iron garden bench or a plastic garden bench.
Finally, concrete, marble, stone, and granite are also
beautiful and durable but unfortunately, unless they
have a cushion, they are not very comfortable. When
buying or building a wood garden bench, remember the
cardinal rule - the fewer screws and bolts the better
the finished bench will look.
When it comes to size, again this is mostly a personal
preference but in general, a four-foot bench will
provide amble room for one or two people without taking
up too much room in the garden itself. You also want to
think about price so you want to determine your budget
first. Typically, you can buy a nice wooden bench of
cedar or redwood for around $200 - $300. Then for the
larger teak benches, prices usually jump to somewhere
around $1,000 or more.
When you are ready to buy a garden bench, if possible,
you should try to buy from an online manufacturer that
pays for shipping. The reason is that while you might
find a great garden bench, the shipping costs can eat
you alive. Many benches ship by freight adding at least
another $100 to your order. Keep this in mind when you
think you might have found a super deal from an online
manufacturer.
Now that you have decided on the perfect garden bench,
make sure to spend some time each day sitting on it
while enjoying a cup of coffee or a beautiful sunset.
That is what it is all about. |
