I have 2 acres so it seems I never have time to just sit outdoors, always weeds or blackberry vines to fight, so for me it's the berry patch when there are berries to pick or a flower bed when the flowers are blooming and I take time to smell them.

My favorite spot changes depending on what's blooming. Right now the honeysuckle is so fragrant and alluring. We constructed raised beds with cottage stones in multiple layers all throughout and around our yard, and made them butt-friendly height for sitting. So sitting by the honeysuckle now.

We have a deck that is always very enjoyable and relaxing to sit on unless it is hot and sunny outside. Eventually it will be shaded. 28 bird stations around the house so always lots of bird and squirrel activity for entertainment and their songs are wonderful.

Porch swing on cool days is nice. LaFuma chairs on the bridges over the creeklets is decadent :-) Sitting on raised bed ledge in depth of willow thicket completely surrounded by jungle effect is soothing. Sitting by pond when water running very nice. Walking down paths staring at trees and growth and examining everything is good. The bench looking out into the front 'swimming pool' and mermaid fountain is nice.

Have tables and chairs and picnic table, enjoy reading or doing projects outside. Enjoy dining outside.

In the winter it's been a bit bleak but as the conifers grow it will be better. Planning to plant some winter interest bushes eventually, may not be enough room.

In general, planting a wide variety of trees and having lots to look at, lots of greenery, was a really good choice. But like hemnancy, there's just so much to do, always things to clean up and weeds and rechaining and chores so it's hard to relax without feeling guilty.

Most thrilling of all: When it rains (Hallelujah!) being inside with all the windows open and sitting in recliner listening to that miraculous beautiful life-giving pitter patter, sighing in relief, thanking God for water, listening to the birds and smelling the flowers and vines wafting in the moist fragrant cool breeze, watching all the leaves flutter and sway and dance.

Like hemnancy I rarely find time to sit down for very long. In the last month we have had a pair of barred owls in the forest bordering our back yard. One always knows when they are close as the robins start sounding their strident warning calls, and often buzzing them. Then I take the time to locate one, sometimes even both. They have gotten so used to seeing this strange human that I can stand right under the branch where the bird is perched. It is wonderful to see these beautiful huge birds and to appreciate that there is enough of a natural ecosystem still in place to sustain them.

We are so lucky to be able to sit outside in our gardens and not be bothered by mosquitoes, black flies and other pests! Our favorite place is a patio off the kitchen where we have bird feeders, a perennial garden that always needs weeding, and a magnificent oak tree. We sit outside while dinner is cooking...and then before you know it, we are out pulling a weed, pruning and deadheading or just plain tidying up. It's really hard to sit, enjoy a lemonade and admire the garden.

Dotty, I agree. I used to get upset with myself that I couldn't just sit and enjoy. Finally it dawned on me - it is the 'doing' that I enjoy the most: pulling a weed, watering a pot, refilling a bird bath (no fancy ones for me; I use garbage can lids with big rocks in the middle for the birds to sit on), trimming a rosemary bush (heavenly smell!), etc.

Today was not so fun. When picking berries a wasp kept dive-bombing me or my straw hat. I previously found a paper wasp nest (or what if is a small hornet nest...) in my tall raspberry that didn't get the bird-netting removed last winter and is now growing up through it which makes picking very difficult already. I lost track of location of the wasp nest but I did see a nearly 1" fuzzy black very scary spider in the raspberry. I hope he likes to eat wasps.

Sitting outside in a screened porch away from the insects sounds heavenly, a great place to read all those emails and forums that I do when I'm actually sitting around, and still be able to enjoy the garden.