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Most of my friends, at least the ones that are passionate about their homes and gardens, occasionally need change. It doesn’t always mean the furniture, paint, landscape or whatever is damaged or broken, it boils down to simply wanting something different.
That may be the case in the tale I’m about to share about how I was gifted a beautiful concrete garden bench. The story goes like this, my friend Carla [I’ve featured her amazing garden and home HERE and HERE] has a “secret garden”. The round of boxwood encircling her armillary had gotten a little large for the space. Casually mentioning this to her husband Tom, a brick layer was hired and a beautiful Lutyens teak bench was purchased for the space within a short time. {We should all be so lucky to have husbands that WANT to re-do something the moment it’s mentioned}. The downside of this was the beautiful concrete bench that had been there for years; always a focal point to the garden, no longer had a home. There wasn’t room for it.
There is always a silver lining to my stories…Carla, knowing my love of concrete garden items, offered the bench to me. I was delirious with joy. But I tempered my joy knowing Carla had some misgivings about the change.
The bench is happy in my garden, but I think the lions look a little sad, they miss Carla’s pretty space. 🙂
As a result of the concrete bench, I was able to move the teak bench that had been in this spot over to my secret garden…
I visited Carla’s new secret garden and took some pictures, it looks amazing and I believe she is content so I can share the lovely concrete bench with you as it stands in my garden…all is good in the garden.
…as it looked before the switch…{Carla, avert your eyes}
Pippi, their Welsh Corgi, approves of the new garden space.
…and as a bonus, I’ve thrown in some additional images of some beautiful benches in gardens.
Hope you have time to relax in the garden this summer.
xo,
Karen
I’m over Fishtail Cottage for her Garden Party and
Sherry over at No Minimalist Here for her Open House
Garden, Home & Party 
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes said:
Please tell Carla that if she wants to get rid of those amazing concrete-pedestal planters… I will give them a lovely home!!
Your new bench looks fantastic there! And your boxwoods are wonderful. I’ve never had any luck with them… they always end up weirdly scraggly on one side. Like winter-damage only happens to half the plant. Your CA weather must be perfect for them.
martha said:
Goodness gracious your garden is lovely! Nice to be linked in with you.
Sherry said:
Wow, The bench is beautiful! I love your friends secret garden. Thanks for sharing this at the Open House party.
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
The bench looks fantastic! You must be so thrilled. How nice to have a friend like Carla who has such lovely cast-offs. Loved the pics of your garden (and Carla’s) especially the last one with Madison sitting regally on her new “throne.” I always get so much inspiration from your posts. Thank you!
Linda
Kifus said:
I love your concrete bench, Karen! There is no way I would have parted with it! And I have to be honest but I much prefer Carla’s garden with the concrete bench than with the teak one she has now. But that is only me, I’m glad she is happy with the change.
Carla said:
Karen…I must admit the concrete bench looks amazing in your perfect garden and yes I DO miss it terribly. However…my husband of 42 years loves the new secret garden and every morning enjoys his tea in his new place of bliss. My hope is that over the summer and winter the teak will become a weathered gray and acquire an aged patina so that this time next year the secret garden will be at its optimum. Pippi the puppy enjoyed her moment in the limelight too and told me she is available for future photo shoots. XOXCARLA
Content in a Cottage said:
Karen…..Your gardens are so beautiful with or without benches. Carla certainly picked the perfect friend for gifting the concrete bench. It looks lovely in its new home. Thanks for the tours. Summer has just begun and your outdoor living spaces are fabulous. I know you’ll enjoy them next week for July 4th.
xo, Rosemary
Ricki Jill Treleaven said:
Such a pretty post with all the pretty garden benches! I wish we had enough level ground on our property so we could enjoy a bench in the garden!
Kathy said:
I don’t know how I missed this post! Everything looks perfect! Your garden is lovely. I would be out there all the time. The bench is a beautiful addition. Your little buddy seems to approve. This is so funny, I actually had a teak bench, that looked exactly like your bench, for years. Now I want to go out and totally start over in my petite garden. Your friend’s garden is picture perfect too. Now THAT’S the wall of green I had in mind.
Kathy
Karen B. said:
Hi Kathy,
I used to be in landscape, I can’t remember if I told you that before, but there was a client that had a “townhome/condo”. She had the entry and patio deck set up with beautiful pots of azaleas and boxwood and such, it was absolutely beautiful and you didn’t miss a large patch of grass at all. I always thought that if I ever lost my yard that is what I would do. Have a wonderful 4th of July. We’ve been invited to a backyard BBQ by some friends that have a view of the fireworks in the area off they back patio. It should be fun. Karen
Gretchen said:
Carla’s bench has found a wonderful new home! I think it’s the accessories in the garden that personalize the space. Your garden reflects your creativity and attention to detail – it’s beautiful!
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