Iron furniture can give your garden a tea-party look.
Gardening is its own reward, and all the flowers and greenery are the bonus. But to enjoy the fruits of your labor, it is useful to have a place to sit or serve a simple lunch and observe blossoms and butterflies close up. The furniture you choose for your garden can complement your landscaping for as much or little money or energy that you care to spend. Does this Spark an idea?
Teak, Shorea, Rattan and Wicker
Garden furniture made from wood or woven from grasses looks natural and wears naturally. Teak is used on boat decks because it is so durable, and the wood has been a top choice for garden and patio furniture for years. If it is oiled annually, it will retain its honey color. However, teak turns a silvery gray when exposed to the elements. Both colors stand out among garden foliage. Shorea is a wood that stands up to the elements nearly as well as teak, and it is far less expensive. Both woods are elegant in a minimalist or Japanese garden.
Rattan and wicker furniture are best for a classic English garden atmosphere. Old pieces, whether matched or mismatched, can be picked up cheaply at garage sales or thrift stores. Store rattan and wicker over the winter to reduce wear. Bring the furniture back out in the spring or summer to enjoy right along with your flowers.
Wrought Iron
A wrought iron table and bistro chairs are tea-party magical when hidden in a sunflower house or under a weeping willow. They look equally at home on a paver patio or nestled under a rose arbor and provide a spot for breakfast al fresco or afternoon lemonade and cookies. Wrought iron lasts well but does require annual cleaning, winter storage and paint touch-ups or, sometimes, complete repainting. Wrought iron is classic in a gazebo, and a bench or a tea table is a delightful surprise along a path overgrown with honeysuckle vine, running bamboo or bushy hydrangeas.
Natural Furniture
Old tree stumps can become casual seating in a garden. They weather well, provide a centerpiece for plantings of groundcover and low flowers, and blend right into the landscape. If you or your neighbors are taking out a big old tree, you can even get the stump and a few trunk sections for free. Tuck one into a shady spot for solitary reflection or scatter two or more throughout a rambling flowerbed for a more social gathering spot. Park tree seats around a flat-topped boulder for a picnic table that looks like it grew right out of the forest. Mix one or two stumps or trunk sections that are about 18 inches high with salvaged garden chairs and an old bistro table for an eclectic garden set. Toss cushions on tree stumps to make a softer seat.
Tags: tree stumps, trunk sections, your garden
