Take a Seat


If the embedded slide show above doesn't open for you, you'll find it via Take a Seat. 

Some of you may be familiar with my other blog, Sign of the Times. My most regular feature over there is Friday Bench, where I showcase all kinds of seats I've seen on my travels.

I've found many of my favourites during garden visits or whilst looking at public planting, so they're an appropriate subject for Veg Plotting too. I've put together a short slide show of 25 of them for you to grab a cuppa, sit down and have a good look.

I'm not alone in my predilection for benches, Sarah Salway has a whole blog dedicated to them called A Quiet Sit Down. I'm also told that Christopher Woodward - the Garden Museum's Director - is a bench aficionado. I must try and have a chat to him about it when I visit tomorrow.

I've showcased many dozens of benches over the years, so you may like to have a look over at Sign of the Times, where my most recent discovery at the Dingle Gardens is awaiting your contemplation today.

Tell me about your favourite bench in the comments below.
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Last year I wrote a more practical article about benches, which was published in The Guardian.

Comments

  1. Cassandra Louise13 October 2014 at 09:20

    There is a bench in my mum's garden. It's old and the paint is peeling, but it's beautiful because it's part of the garden: the garden and the bench have swallowed each other. The bench looks over the lily garden, which is planted in an old rain barrel cut in half. When I have a garden of my own, it will have at least one lovely bench. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. VP13 October 2014 at 09:38

    Hi Cassandra - I love the sound of your mum's bench and the way it's now part of the garden. Every garden needs at least one lovely and well loved bench :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hetty13 October 2014 at 10:12

    Dear Cassandra, what a fantastisch ideaal to blog about benches. I Will do that too. Maybe in winter, when everything is Brown in the garden. Groetjes from Holland, Hetty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP13 October 2014 at 10:24

      Hi Hetty and welcome! The great thing about benches is they can be blogged about at any time of the year. I look forward to seeing what you come up with - perhaps we should have a bench day next year when everyone is feeling fed up and looking for something to blog about during the dark days of winter :) Best wishes, Michelle

      Delete
  4. Mark and Gaz13 October 2014 at 10:23

    Fabulous idea Michelle, and some fabulous benches and seating areas there! Favourite bench? The blue one we used to have that got incinerated but at least it has now been replaced, just needs repainting blue again.

    ReplyDelete
  5. VP13 October 2014 at 10:35

    Hi guys! I've featured many blue benches over at Sign of the Times including the one I've linked to at the end of this post. They do sit very well in a garden don't they ('scuse pun)? I look forward to seeing your new bench in all its glory :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous13 October 2014 at 14:14

    An interesting selection. I like 12, the big chair with one leg longer than the others. I think that my favourite has to be the rather swish looking 7 at Euridge Manor. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP13 October 2014 at 15:05

      Hi Flighty, I'm glad you like them. It was hard keeping the show down to just 25, and whilst I too like the ones you've highlighted for me number 25 is best :-)

      Delete
  7. Juliet13 October 2014 at 21:15

    I love the one at Lacock - it's a work of art. I often take photos of benches too, especially unusual or sculptural ones - am gradually working through all the photos I haven't had time to sort for the last year or so, so I'll have to see what I can find for your bench day :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP14 October 2014 at 08:17

      That's great - I'm having a think about timing, winter might not work for most people as it's a time when there aren't that many opportunities to visit gardens or sit outside. What do you think?

      Delete
  8. Janet/Plantaliscious14 October 2014 at 07:37

    A most excellent collection! Hard to pick favourites of yours, let alone mine. Though I do love the hefty stone benches and matching table up on the cliffs near here, placed as part of the GeoPark installation. Fabulous view out across the bay, as far as the Isle of Man on a clear day, and an excellent place to watch the huge container ships making their way to and from Liverpool.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP14 October 2014 at 08:18

      That sounds grand Janet. A great bench in a grand spot.

      Delete
  9. Rose14 October 2014 at 13:35

    Great post, VP! So many interesting variations on seating, though I think the one in the Czech Republic might be a little difficult to sit on:) The large orange containers reminded me of JJ's garden in Portland; I loved those! My favorites are any looking out upon a lovely garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP15 October 2014 at 07:52

      Hi Rose - I see what you mean re JJ's garden. I have posted a few benches from my Portland trip on the other blog, though these are mainly street photos rather than from the gardens we visited.

      Delete
  10. Karen Hall14 October 2014 at 19:07

    You know how much I love your bench pictures VP - one of the things I look forward to seeing when I dip over to "sign of the times".

    Its the one at Great Dixter that does it for me :)
    K
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP15 October 2014 at 07:53

      Hi Karen - I always wonder whose boots those are :)

      Delete

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