Welcome to the garden … your table is ready – by Diane Morey Sitton

Few garden accessories are as useful and versatile as tables. Large or small, whimsical or formal, they earn their keep on patios and decks, in courtyards and corners, and beside paths, pools and planters. They can be used to showcase a rare plant, prized art object or mini-collection of garden artifacts, or the table itself can be a one-of-a-kind focal point.

What’s more, garden tables are as individual as the gardens they occupy. They range from ornately-designed wrought iron antiques to brightly-painted pallet boards set atop heavy flower pots.

Shop online or browse garage sales, estate sales and flea markets for vintage concrete and wrought iron tables. They withstand wear and tear, and they come loaded with ambience. Old wicker tables are a coveted find, too. Add glass or plexiglass tops, and then put them to work on covered porches or patios. Modern café tables with mosaic tile tops add instant color and interest to gardens. Usually, sets come with two chairs.

Mosaic tile also offers an option for garden crafters who want to freshen up an old table top. If you like to repurpose and favor flea-market style, you can transform a cable spool into a table by setting it on end and painting it. Add decorative designs on the top by using stencils and a contrasting color of paint. Repurposers concoct garden table bases by using birdbath stands, cast iron sewing machine bases and tree stumps. They use old doors, pallet boards and tree trunk slabs as table tops.

Hand-hewn tables made from cedar branches help reinforce rustic themes. Crafters and do-it-yourselfers use sturdy sections of cedar tree limbs to construct the legs; they use 1 X 6” cedar boards to form the table top. Cedar branches tacked to the sides add playful, woodsy accents. Shop for cedar tables at craft fairs, or go online for how-to videos or to order plans.

But whether handmade or factory built, adding tables to gardens is only part of the fun. Besides using tables to hold beverages and snacks while you take a break from garden chores, you can use them to showcase dish gardens, nature art and/or garden collectibles. Some tables invite centerpieces; other tables invite seasonal décor.

Still other tables are perhaps best left empty, open to the whims of Mother Nature. Who knows when a bird, butterfly or squirrel may need a place to rest before flitting off to its next adventure.