After such a wet ten days it is good to have some respite and be able to go out into the garden for some relaxation. It is difficult to come to terms with the fact that summer is over and that, although it is not yet Winter, now is the time to prepare. Now is a very good time to move plants that have become too large for their surrounds or perhaps they just need dividing. I must admit that I am so pleased to have garden benches around the garden that I can sit on and rest while doing such arduous work in the garden and on the patio.

I am not an advocate of putting every last piece of garden furniture away, but I do feel that items such as the bar tables and bar stools that look so good in the summer, somehow look out of place in the Winter to the extent that they should be put away out of sight.  Items such as Lutyens benches and teak tree benches are an all the year around piece of garden furniture and show themselves well in a Winter Garden.

On a lovely day like today it is a good chance to walk around the garden and patio areas to see if there are any repairs that will need to done before next spring? Will the patio slabs need re-pointing? The garden fence perhaps will need treating with preservative. Now is the time to plan and arrange for these jobs to be done.

I am making it sound as if a garden is place where only hard work takes place. I apologise if this is the case because a garden’s primary function is to provide enjoyment and pleasure and act as an antidote to stresses and strains of everyday life

Following on from my blog on presents for men, it has been suggested that some ideas for Ladies would be a good idea as well. I would be the last person earth to suggest that I am any authority on Ladies, yet alone what to give them as a present, but I will give it a go.
Ladies love to be given presents that give them a feeling that they are being spoilt, so a pair of garden loungers will be a very good start. Firstly it shows that you think she should spend time relaxing in the garden – time when she can read a book or listen to her favourite music on her I-pod, lapping up the glorious sunshine for which England is so famous.
Here is another idea to consider. The tree that the parents gave to their daughter with the arrival of the first born, their grandchild, is now well established and positioned in the garden with a good view. Why not give a tree bench, sometimes referred to as a tree seat, to surround the tree and give somewhere relaxing to sit in the garden. This wooden piece of garden furniture, which will be made from top quality heartwood teak, will last for many years and give a huge amount of pleasure.
Perhaps it won’t win as many brownie points, but another idea is to give a present that will be used by the whole family and not just the recipient. I am thinking of a teak garden table and some comfortable garden chairs that can be added to the patio furniture that is already owned by the family
If none of these ideas strikes a chord, then a trip to the perfume department of the local department store will always produce results, and never fails to please!!