Bench

The other day after visiting the Missouri Botanical Garden (where I saw the orchid show, the rock garden, the Climatron, and the temperate house) I stopped at a nearby garden shop called The Bug Store. They sell garden ornaments and home furnishings only, so not the type of place I normally stop.

But I do like to check out the planters, benches and various garden sculptures they carry -- I sometimes get good ideas while browsing. This trip, I got something more.

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On the top of my list for the garden this summer is seating -- I need some places to sit in the yard and enjoy the results of my labors. So benches have been on my mind for a couple of months already. There were a few benches at the store, but none really caught my eye -- except for the one that my wife and I both remarked on last year (or was it the year before?):

It had been sitting out in the weather for quite a while, and I noticed that the price tag ($200 !) had a lot more writing on it than a price tag normally does.

It seems that the finish on this metal bench was failing and would rub off on your hands if you touched the wrong spot -- or your bottom if you actually sat on the bench.

So there was a warning on the tag: "do not sit!"

There was more information too: "refinish yourself and save: $40". I wasn't sure if that was the amount you'd save, or if that was the price, so I went inside and asked.

"You can't sit on it!" was the first thing they told me when I asked about it.

"Right, I read that. But what does it cost?"

"You'll have to refinish it, because the finish is coming off. It's $40."

(that whipping sound you just heard was my wallet coming out)

So I paid that amazingly low price and carefully, excitedly carried it out to my truck.

The thing is, I really like the finish the way it is. It's a beautiful patina, and I have the perfect plan to preserve it: Rustoleum clear coat. It's like spray paint, but transparent, and "recommended for outdoor use". So a couple of cans of that stuff and this bench will again be bottom-safe.

Although objects this ornate aren't normally my style, there's something about this bench that really speaks to me.

I think it will look great somewhere in my garden, surrounded by some plantings to soften it up a bit.

Now I just need to find that "where".

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