The meandering ways of garden paths

I love the curious ways of a curvy garden path. They beckon one deeper into the space never knowing what treasures lie beyond the next curve. I admire how a curve encourages us to wander and peruse, where straighter walks are more direct, as if in a hurry. Over the past several years (and as a bit of a hobby), I've started capturing photos of paths and trails on trips to gardens here and abroad. Here are some of my favorites.

This one you've probably seen before. Its of a runner bond pattern brink walk we completed in our old side yard with gorgeous mossy salvaged bricks. This small garden is actually less than 12 feet wide, but it became on of my favorite spots nonetheless. The color variation in the old bricks is incomparable in my opinion to newer more "perfect" varieties available in retail outlets today.

  

We found this lonely path at Laguna Mojanda in Ecuador a few years ago. I love how it follows the landscape's natural elevations, literally carving up and making it accessible for travelers today. I also can't help but think about why the path was created and who and what have traveled its course.

This path is from the Hacienda Cusin near Otavalo, Ecuador. I love the use of the tall green spike-like foliage as a mask for what's beyond.

This path is at the renowned Fearrington Inn and Village in Pittsboro, NC. Their village community is both a gardener and gourmand's delight. I love the width of this path and how the maple tree helps provides a canopy over the walk while also peaking one's interest at what's around the next bend.

This simple path of crushed stone with a rock border was our carpet through a jungle in Belize. There's something about the contrast of the gray color against the green foliage in this setting that is pleasing to the eye.

I don't mean to knock straight paths, as they also have their merits and uses in the landscape: straight paths are often indicative of more formal spaces. Straight paths are wonderful in symmetrical gardens and create amazing lines when anchored with a focal point as done in the Reynolda Village garden.

This path can be found at the Reynolda Gardens in Winston Salem, NC. The use of grass for a path is unconventional, yet inviting. The gazebo placement at the of the walk demarcates the passing from one part of the garden to another.

This grass path through a grove of trees, from the Grayland Inn (also in Winston Salem), is gorgeously framed with trees. (I'm still unsure of how they are able to get grass to grow in that much shade, but I'm certainly glad they did!)

This straight and narrow way frames the "White Garden" also at the Fearrington Inn. A bench is the focal point awaiting travelers along this path.

In this South American path, stones and rocks of various sizes are inter-laid to create the effect of a continuous solid path.

We have plans to put in a flagstone path from our backyard garden gate to our brick patio this Spring/Summer. Posts on the project progress are sure to follow!