Sometimes the best way to encourage the enjoyment of a garden is so obvious it is overlooked. Gardening is very busy and active work. That’s part of the fun but enjoying the fruits of your labor in a meditative way is part of the fun too. Adding one chair as a place to sit and take note of all of your accomplishments can be as effective in a small simple cottage garden as a full dressed outdoor room with tables, chairs, and lounge seating.
If the former describes your garden, take heart. You don’t need to break the bank to give your garden that piece de’ resistance that says “this is a place to stop and stay awhile”. I have had a long running love affair with the chair. I am constantly surprised by how any outdoor space can be transformed and made complete by the addition of one great chair. It can be as traditionally American as an adirondack chair, funky or modern in metal, or carved artistically in wood. Let your imagination run and check out local art shows, antique sales, or local garden shops. Don’t settle until you find the one that speaks to you. It will become your best friend in the garden.