A pond is a place for reflection and relaxation. Installing a seat by the water garden will help make the space one that insists that visitors pause for a moment to enjoy the scenery.
Why Put a Seat By the Pond?
Putting a seat by the pond is a way to encourage people to relax in comfort. Sitting with a cup of tea, looking out over the water lilies, and listening to the garden fountain is a sure way to relax. Several seats or a pond surround also provide a social hub for the garden, placing the pond at the social center of the yard space. Seats are also a clever way to disguise unsightly parts of the garden. Put a seat over top! Or use a bench with storage to hide pond equipment.
Designs for Pond Garden Benches
Pond seats may be as simple as an Adirondack chair, a wide invitation to a lazy weekend afternoon. They may be a traditional garden bench, with structured arms and a wood or metal seat. Seats can also surround the pond. A water feature can be enclosed by a wooden bench structure or a group of chairs, creating a focal point for the garden.
Choosing a Wooden Garden Bench
Wooden garden benches are surprisingly durable. Cedar benches are especially known for their ability to resist rot, since the cedar tree is naturally rot-resistant. They also smell beautiful in the summer heat. Make sure that the bench is stained, or the wood will age to a grayish color. Check the wood for rot after a long winter, since wood will bend and crack over time. Wood benches are a good visual choice for a more natural-looking pond garden. Surrounded by native pond-side plants, they camouflage well.
Choosing an Iron or Aluminum Garden Bench
Cast iron or aluminum garden benches are often chosen for their durability. Metal is also beautiful, and it contrasts nicely with rocks and water in the water garden. The metal structures of wrought iron can echo the lines of a fountain or other water feature. Aluminum benches are very light and are good for a garden bench that changes location in different seasons. Wrought iron benches often echo the designs of old park benches. Their light and beautiful designs can make them a centerpiece of the water garden.
Use a Bench for Storage of Water Garden Supplies
There are many attractive benches that effectively hide storage underneath. The seat of the bench lifts up to reveal a chest for storing garden supplies. A small pond skimmer or other pond equipment can reside in such a bench, making it simpler to perform pond maintenance while hiding essential maintenance supplies out of plain view. Consider a multifunctional storage bench in a small garden, where space is at a premium and a bench seems to be a luxurious use of space. Storage benches often come in wood or plastic, with some options for recycled plastic as well.
There are many beautiful options for benches to place by the garden pond. Consider whether the seat will be a garden focal point or a place to hide. It might include storage space or be used to seat a large number of people. Whatever the reason for placing a bench near the pond, it will become a focal point of activity in the garden.
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