One of my favorite features in a garden is the garden bench.
A bench in a garden is an invitation to sit down, relax, take in a view. At the end of a path, a bench provides a focal point. A bench furnishes a place to go to, a destination, and a sense of shelter.
A good bench reinforces the overall feel and design of the garden. Rough-hewn wood benches work well in picturesque gardens; fine teak benches lend a more formal style; a simple log bench emphasizes the rustic ambiance of a garden, and benches with grass seats were popular in the medieval garden.
Scroll over each of the photos above to learn more about these gardens.