Have you noticed one of the not so great joys of aging is how susceptible we become to temperatures? It’s because our bodies become less efficient at regulating body heat. When external temperatures rise, like when we’re exposed to direct sunlight or extremely hot environments, so does our internal body temperature. This is why seniors suffer from heatstroke more often than younger gardeners.
Combat this reality by creating seating in the shade for taking breaks in hot weather. Here are some things to consider:
- Make sure your chairs or benches are comfortable and have backs.
- Many trees can be messy because they drop their leaves all year, but they can be worth keeping because they also provide shade during the hottest months.
- Add a pergola or gazebo with seating for mess-free, year-round shade and to add visual interest.
- Incorporate umbrellas throughout your garden. They’re easy to pop-up or take down as needed.
- Decorative shade sails are a cost-effective alternative to awnings and can easily be removed when winter sets in. Due to their popularity, you can probably find a decent one at most big home goods stores.
- Check out my Pinterest page for other fun shade ideas.