Pond-Side Garden Bench

Pond-Side Garden Bench

There are three Moosey garden benches - I'm still trying out positions for two of them. One sits and sulks all summer in the shade by the pond. So far it has stayed in this potentially prime location.

The area under the pond trees is very noisy when the hot summer winds blow. And it's usually messy with gum tree rubbish - strips of peeling bark, leaves and branches.

Then later in Autumn the pond-side tree drops leaves and brown catkins all over the seat. It usually needs clearing and cleaning before the gardener can attempt to sit down!

Late Winter Sun

But recently this winter I've been clearing and tidying in here, and the pond garden bench has become suddenly very popular. There is late afternoon winter sun to warm up a tired gardener.

All three cats and the dog are happy to visit this spot - possibly because it's in sight of the house, and FOOD...

Stephen and Taj-Dog

When the garden bench was brand new it was a shiny painted brown colour. It didn't take long for that rustic look to be acquired.

Woodland Ambience

As well as the gum trees the pond seat is surrounded by all sorts of other plants and shrubs. There is a lot of self sown purple and white honesty underneath the nearby gum trees. Each spring these plants carpet the area with their beautiful coloured flowers.

Flaxes and Hebes also have space in here, and I've made room for several Pittosporums. These are tough shrubs which will survive weeks of neglect and still look good - they suffer in silence!

When I have time I pull the old bark off the gum trees - it's a bit like stripping wallpaper! The results are immediate - the pond-side seat is enveloped with a woodland ambience.

The Pond-Side Garden Bench in Winter

Water trickles gently into the pond from the intake pipe, completing the peaceful mood. If I can just keep the area tidy, I'm sure this garden bench will become an all year round feature in the Moosey Pond Paddock and gardens.