During the dreaming stage of my perennial garden, I envisioned at least one shaded, seating area. Years later, after the garden became a reality, I spotted the perfect white arbor bench at a rural outdoor boutique. What I didn’t think about at the time was the many benefits of owning an arbor bench.
- Potato vines (Solanum jasminoides) hug my arbor creating a cool, shady, cocoon-like-space . . . a plus during one-hundred degree temperatures.
- I can disappear into the background. If I don’t move, hummingbirds and butterflies think I’m part of the landscape and practically perch on me.
- The arbor adds a focal point. It draws people to come from across the garden to sit for a spell.
- Mostly, the arbor bench invites me to dismiss the weeding, pruning, and deadheading—if only for a few minutes—that awaits my attention. Copyright © 2010 Dianne Marie Andre
In and Around the Garden 