I like what I see. At the same time, I am looking toward the time – and not a long time, either – when the snows will disappear, witch hazel and Lenten rose will bloom.
And the paths will come back.
They’ve been gone for more than a week, disappeared under a heavy blanket of snow, leaving me with images of the way they were – and the way they will be.
I can see them through my mind’s eye, recalling where the stones are in some, how deep the gravel is in others, which rugs have become part of the earth in my garden of ornaments.
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| Bluestone path mirrors garage roofline, makes cat seats. |
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| Path from driveway to front door: fieldstone, river pebbles. |
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| Behind garage. |
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| Front garden, from house to bridge. |
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| Autumn, garden of doodads, U-shape path, rugs natural, manmade. |
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| The herb garden. |
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| Through the field, to the woods. |
In some ways, paths are as important to me as plants; they help define spaces, they provide texture, they get me from one place to another. Like sitting places, they are necessary.
I built these paths over the 10 years I've been building this garden. In deciding where the paths would go, I recalled the way my college, Southern Illinois University, created paths at the Edwardsville campus: Designers did not decide on paths' locations as the campus was built; they waited a year or two, noting routes students and faculty took from one building to another. That's where the paths were laid. Who knew I'd learn so much in college.
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Holy cow! I had no idea we had so many paths. They are beautiful and I look forward to seeing them again eventually.
ReplyDeleteThough I made them, the numbers surprised me too when I began photographing them. And, as you know, there are some not pictured.
DeleteWhat a wonderful and comprehensive collection of paths you've built! By the sound of things, you may not have to wait too long before they begin to reemerge, at least temporarily. TGIF!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them, Sue. I'm seeing more patches of paths by the day. Let's hear it for rain and thaw.
DeleteThis post shows the essence of your garden -- stones of every size and texture, not just sitting there, but actually doing something, in this case creating wonderful paths and leading the eye.
ReplyDeleteHow much fun to dig out photos from the prior season and see them anew. I do love your summery scenes and all those paths following their natural inclinations.
And Lyn's comment above : )
You got it, Laurrie. Stones in action. It is satisfying how photos help the mind recall and relive parts of a garden.
DeleteIt sounds like you got the best education there. To add to that they say you should let your dogs make the paths. They know the best routes. I think it is interesting how each path has a unique style. All seem to draw one into the garden area you wish to see.
ReplyDeleteDogs would be excellent path finders. No question, Lisa. Cats from all around seem to be the biggest users, now that the paths are here.
DeleteWhat a beautiful collection of paths, Lee! I agree, a great garden must combine all of the ingredients/elements along with lots of love from the gardener. The designers at SIUE were quite wise with their approach to the paths (observant students certainly learn a lot outside of the classroom :-). Last but not least, I love your purple garden bench in the last photo. It's such a nice pop of color. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth, that bench is a great wake-me-up when I look out toward the woods in the morning.
DeleteLetting your feet pick the paths is the best way to figure out where paths should go, I agree! I love the punctuation the Japanese maples provide in the first picture. The purple bench by the tree too. It's such a brilliant color.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like those maples. I tell you, as container plants they're hard to beat.
DeleteWhen we filled in a doorway in an old house of ours, people warned me about "traffic flow". That seemed a mighty grand phrase for what I thought of as "home". But I do think of traffic flow when creating paths now at our "farm". My husband was the one who enjoyed creating them with our riding mower. They have names too. We have the bloodroot trail, the groundhog trail, the northwoods trail, etc. We also have names for rooms in our house: the white room, the granny room, the family room. It's a fine way of personalizing the place that has now become home.
ReplyDeleteGood ideas, naming paths, trails and rooms. We name some pieces of furniture. And all vehicles get names. It does make them feel more personal.
DeleteAh yes, the vehicles! We used to have "the eggplant". Now I drive "the sewing machine"(a very small & basic model!)
DeleteThese are wonderful! I didn't know you had so many different paths or that your garden was so large. My dogs have a path they've cut through the grass that is quite apparent in the winter. I ended up putting stepping stones into the area my family and I kept cutting through. the path was already there. The stones just made it official. :o)
ReplyDeleteDogs do seem to be fine pathfinders. You and Lisa of Greenbow (see above) know their talents. Indeed, I need a lot of paths to get around the sizeable chunk of land I've crammed with plants.
DeleteI like your paths. There are so many of them! They just call to you to walk them. I still think about the path in my back yard lined with solar lights that I had in Arizona. It was the first yard I had that was big enough to have a path. And I've been thinking about a path for the new house. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them, Lana. Of course you must have a path for you new house. New garden, new path. Enjoy.
DeleteIt has been said that a path adds charm and function to a Garden and they may be simple yet
ReplyDeleteevocative.
It blows my mind to think that with your creative mind and talent you made something so warm and memorable for anyone so fortunate as to walk upon each path.
Wonderful Article, Lee.
True, Anna, that the simplest path can be charming and quite memorable. I'm delighted that you like mine. And my words about them.
DeleteEach path is as different as each part of the garden. I like the contrast of carefully placed pebbles and old carpet. From zen and contemplative to the BMG of doodads I've been enjoying your previous posts.
ReplyDeleteThese posts are encouraging as my garden is just over four years now and not "there" yet. I need to add more doodads I think and be patient.
Thank you, Shirley. I did want the paths to differ from one another. As for patience, yes indeed; it's essential, even though it's sometimes difficult for us gardeners.
DeleteI love paths, they are an invitation, they lure us, show us the way. I'm noticing how each of your paths has its own personality. The creativity you have put into their creation, the selection of materials as well as their location - truly a labour of love. They are completely charming.
ReplyDeleteRosemary, it's as if you were watching me hunt the various stones and pea gravel to place here and there. Your being charmed adds value to those paths.
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