“A path is a prior interpretation of the best way to traverse a landscape.”
― Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking
When we design and create our gardens there are many elements to consider, and one of them is the shape of the path and our choice of materials. A path can draw a viewer into your garden, offer a sense of mystery at what lies beyond.
“A garden path,’ write the landscape architects Charles W. Moore, William J. Mitchell, and William Turnbull, ‘can become the thread of a plot, connecting moments and incidents into a narrative. The narrative structure might be a simple chain of events with a beginning, middle, and end. It might be embellished with diversions, digressions, and picaresque twists, be accompanied by parallel ways (subplots), or deceptively fork into blind alleys like the althernative scenerios explored in a detective novel. Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking
In other words, our gardens and theirs paths tell a story, our story. There are so many materials to choose from and our choices may be based on purely aesthetic reasons, although practicality can have it’s place in our decision making……will the area receive a lot of traffic? Is traction on our chosen surface an issue? Is it permeable if there are water or drainage issues. How do we want it to feel underfoot? Cost?
The choices are endless. You can use wood, recycled cement, mosaic tiles in addition to the above to make your garden path. I hope you enjoyed these ideas and hopefully a bit of inspiration.
I look forward to sharing some exciting finds with you all next week, plus some photos of another new rather large pocket garden. We should be done with it tomorrow and I can take some photos…..until then, I hope you all are enjoying your weekend. Laters, charisse
I absolutely love the diamond grass path, guess you have to leave gaps for the grass, would it be hard 59 look after? Do you give advice if I was to send a photo, we Have started on our front and it is beginning to look lovely but there is something missing and not sure what this is. Thanks really enjoyed the gardens.
HI Mary, I apologize for the late response to your inquiry. I find that a weed whacker takes care of paths and edging fairly easily on garden paths like this one that you like. In my paths we sunk the paving stones to the level of the grass over a bed of sand and/or some fine gravel, and I could just mow over them. Every once in a while, if the voles had a fun winter, we might have to make adjustments.If you are still working on your front and want to send a photo for me to look at and shoot some ideas your way I would be happy to. I promise it will not take me so long to respond. You can email them to me at the contact email address. laters, charisse
I love the way you always find a special ‘niche’ to share. This was wonderful.
Thanks Laurie. It is fun and sometimes a challenge to try and find interesting “finds” to share, but I really enjoy it.