My favorite garden paths bend around corners, begging you to follow them to see what lies beyond. In my book, a great garden design practically forces you to continue exploring and nothing does that better than a path.
Paths define how intimate a space is by their width. A wide path, by its very nature, is more social and meant to be traversed with company. A narrow path tells you you will be one with the garden.
Wide and stable, this path is meant for a crowd. I picture a group gathered for a dinner party, cocktails in hand, traversing this path to head back to the house after having appetizers in a scenic spot on the property.
Gravel is a lovely choice for a path. It is easy to maintain and makes the most lovely crunching sound underfoot, but it can be hard to walk on. I think it should be reserved for paths that are meant to be walked on slowly, not rushed down. Cut gravel is better than pea gravel, which can actually feel a little slippery because it rolls around. Of course if you intend to have people walk barefoot on the path, then you have to go with pea gravel, lest you create a torture device for bare feet.
Some paths are made of unexpected materials. This one is slices of a tree.
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| Los Angeles Times photo |
I love this wood path.
Some paths aren’t so much about the destination as they are about the path itself.
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| Judy White/Gardenphotos.com photo |
This path isn’t even meant to be a path.
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| Victoria Vasilieve photo |
Obviously I have a thing for paths, but I think my favorite of all paths are those over water. What could possibly be more fun?
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Apartment Therapy photo |
What does your perfect garden path look like?
18 Responses
You have an impeccable eye, as seen in this collection of marvelous pathways. It truly is the journey here that is important – not the destination.
I love winding walkways, preferably with greenery and flowering plants spilling over the edges. Is there a gravel/rock you would recommend that is easy on your bare feet (nobody around here bothers to put on shoes before flying out the door) if you don’t want to use stepping stones or pavers in conjunction with the gravel. Another issue I’ve had is the landscape crew, while blowing leaves off the walkways, blow half the gravel/rock along with the leaves into the flower beds. Drives me nuts! I’ve added some higher borders in some areas which has helped. Thanks.
Love, love, love the wooden stump path! We are redoing our backyard and we told our landscape architect we want a path through our garden. I will definitely be referring back to this post.
Great article! Paths are often overlooked as a landscape feature, but they’re a neat way of adding a new dimension to the landscape and opening up new creative possibilities.
Beautiful! I adore garden paths, too! I have been gathering rocks for years for several projects…my husband thinks I’m crazy! 😀
Just looking at the pictures made m feel lighter and happy! Thanks
waw your garden are so beautiful
Hi Erin. I’ m new to your blog having just discovered you within the past few weeks. Love your videos and am anxious for Spring. In the meantime I’ll just have to take my inspiration from you and your garden. Thank you for your informative and entertaining videos.
Absolutely love your website. I am looking forward to all your good ideas to come.
Duży szacunek dla ludzi, którzy potrafią,tak pięknie dbać o ogrody.
Beautiful, and inviting. Thank yoi
Some beautiful examples. I am linking to you in a post of my own on paths. 🙂
I loved looking through the path photos. I am currently making a path through my bottom garden, using re-cycled post rails, and relocated volcanic rocks. Hard work but sooo rewarding at the end of each day, when I look back at what I have achieved. Not sure whether to leave the path in dirt or to cover it something. Any ideas?
Thank you for the path ideas,I have a load of Re-claimed hand made bricks from an old estate.Could not let them be thrown away.will send a pic. Richard of Norfolk. UK
what a great collection of images. The muscari path/river is always such a breathtaking scene.
I'll follow you down any one of these garden paths, Erin. Thanks for the inspiration.
We have a flagstone path that runs from the sidewalk up to the front of the house, curving a bit at the top. This will be my second full summer in the house and I'm planning on softening the edges of it by creating a garden that hugs each side of the curve. I'm thinking boxwood for a bit of an edging with hostas and some groundovers behind.
Thanks for following me on instagram! I love garden paths as well! I love the one with the river rocks, and the one with the mosses…..nice selections!(just followed you on pinterest too!