Arbors add mystery by enticing the visitor. Instead of a bulky arbor marking the entrance to your garden or garden room, consider a looser arbor covered with a lacy or semitransparent plant. This Cascade Falls bald cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Cascade Falls’, USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone) has fern-like foliage on pliable weeping branches.
Pink chaparral currant Origin: Inner North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Channel Islands, northern Baja California Natural habitat: Chaparral, closed-cone pine forest, mixed evergreen forest, central oak woodland, foothills and canyons; below 4,500 feet. Where it will grow: Hardy between 0 and 35 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 7 to 10; find your zone).Water requirement: Drought tolerant to moderate water Light requirement: Full sun on the coast and in cool climates; partial shade inland Soil requirement: Adaptable; needs good drainage Mature size: 5 to 6 feet tall and wide; some cultivars can grow larger. Benefits and tolerances: Moderately deer tolerant; great for slopes and under oak trees; the leaves can be used in tea; the fresh berries are edible but aren’t tasty to people — unless cooked, they are better left to the birds.Seasonal interest: Fall to spring blooms and spring berries. When to plant: Late fall is ideal; winter works well; early spring can be acceptable; summer is challenging to all but the most experienced gardener.
Establish rhythm in your garden. We all have an internal rhythm. Some of this is static, a part of who we are, and some of it changes according to our circumstances and moods. Heart and breathing rates are two of the most noticeable forms of internal rhythm, but your natural stride and style of walking and that melody that continually plays in your head are other forms of your own personal rhythm.
Evening splendour.
Use this solar light system to light your way through the garden paths.
A pathway gate through the woods to the pond.
The calmest zone, however, will be within a distance of one to two tree heights from the windbreak.
Here the use of bright yellow garden furniture brings to life an otherwise traditionally designed and planted courtyard garden.
But is it such a leap to break away from muted colours to enjoy those bright, rich tones that we love to decorate our homes with during deepest winter in our gardens for the rest of the year?
Seating. Every garden needs seating. The philosopher carefully positions benches to take advantage of a thought-provoking vignette or to catch the light at a certain time of day.
A more free-form pattern of concrete pavers continues along the side yard and into the backyard and back deck area. Phormiums flank the side gate. Cox irregularly spaced 1-inch by 1-inch ipe slats along the gate for added interest. Could be used as a divider from the front and driveway area, to the backyard and garden area.
The garden entrance may be a gate, a set of old doors, a vine-covered arbor, a pair of sculptures or large boulders, an opening in a tall hedge or, as this photograph shows, a bridge. This bridge over a dry creek bed is a clear point of departure for the upcoming journey. Its yatsuhashi, or zigzag design, plus the lantern and boulder clearly set the theme for this Asian-inspired woodland garden.
Remember that even with a classic gravel path, properly installing the subgrade, the base course and the surface layer can give you a much more durable result. Instead of just throwing some gravel down in your garden, consult a landscaper to get some good recommendations on plastic grids and fabric backings that discourage weed growth.
A 'bulge in the pathway' provides seclusion and quiet.
Situating garden art in a sea of color (like this statue positioned in front of a mass of bright chartreuse ferns) makes it come alive, and different effects can be accomplished as the seasons shift and the foliage changes color.
Paths that hint at a destination. A garden path should always lead somewhere; this is seemingly obvious but sometimes overlooked.
These circular iron arbors are a clever twist on the traditional pergola. With its vertical circles, the walkway both contains and concentrates the plantings while leading the eye to a viewpoint at the end of the path: an amazing pierced metal sphere. The metal circles have the feeling of a traditional moon gate.
In less-formal designs, circles can be used to add structure, making a statement within naturalistic plantings. The plantings here, though loose, emphasize the shape of the circle, leading the eye inward. The gravel within the circle is kept to a crisp shape with steel landscape edging that has a black painted finish.
Bees of all kinds are drawn to tall blazing star (Liatris aspera), which also attracts finches that eat the seeds. It's growing with purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis), which has a habitat range that extends from Maine to Florida.
Designing around existing rock formations can be interesting, as they create a warmer microclimate and can demand a specific plant palette due to the nature of the soil.
The whole site is a tribute to the rich, diverse flora of the Northeast," says principal designer Sheila Brady of Oehme, van Sweden. “We pivoted the design around the geology, all the beautiful rock outcroppings, the wet meadow and the mature forest nearby.”
Regardless of a path’s destination, make the journey a visually appealing one with a variety of features. Which features you choose depends on how long you wish to capture someone’s attention. “For a straight, wide path that leads to a front door or garage,” Ayers says, “I’d offer a single species of flora, like grasses. This way they can enjoy it while walking directly straight through. On the other hand, a meandering path might get a large variety of species to hold someone’s attention longer.”
A meandering garden path, however, can be much narrower, as the intention is for guests to follow it to discover what lies ahead. “If you want someone to linger,” says Ayers, “curve the path around focal points, like a tree, boulder or berm of land. The most engaging paths curve around points of interest rather than arbitrarily twist and turn.”
Paths can be made of wood, concrete, brick, decomposed granite, flagstone or any other material that feels good to walk on, offers a grip when wet and won’t wash away.
Keep the path in character with its surroundings. Path materials that don’t make sense will feel jarring and confusing. Choose either materials that fit an existing theme of your home's exterior or garden, or natural features that will blend harmoniously with what’s already in the vicinity.
It can be a serene fountain with a bench or a rock garden. The idea is to give people a reward at the end of their trip.
A successful path, no matter what its type, has to have a destination, otherwise it's just plain pointless and frustrating. The phrase "wild goose chase" comes to mind.
"The three most important things to designing a path are ensuring that it leads somewhere, that it stays in character with its surroundings and it's comfortable to walk on,”
An outdoor path comes in one of two categories: 1) a directional tool to move people to a destination as efficiently as possible, or 2) a device that allows people to engage the senses as they meander toward a destination at a leisurely pace.
Armillary Spheres Set Rooms in Motion If you're not ready to invest in a large garden statue, a smaller one can add just the right traditional touch to a border or path.
This second view is looking from the seating wall back toward the street. The challenge here was to hide views of the street and neighboring houses, as I wanted to have a degree of privacy.
Chinese astilbe (Astilbe chinesis, zones 4 to 8) is a great addition to the garden. As a summer bloomer, it grows thick, glossy foliage in average garden soil, just as long as the soil doesn't get too dry.
Ferns are old, simple and graceful plants that can be extremely effective when sited well. Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris, zones 3 to 7) can be one of the most aggressive spreaders. It will live forever in dry soil but tends to look ratty if it dries out, so site it in a moist, rich soil where it can take over. For dry woodlands try hay-scented fern
Add architectural fragments. From timeworn gargoyles to ancient temple ruins, appropriately chosen and placed architectural pieces can transport our minds to another time and place. A visit to a salvage yard can yield a plethora of soon-to-be garden treasures. Just don’t overdo it.
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