Artfully designed garden paths mimic the way it feels to walk in nature. You’ve probably had this experience strolling a woodland path in one of our Northern Virginia regional parks: You pause at an overlook to take in the feeling of space rolling out before you. You sit for a moment and listen to the sounds of a rocky creek where it cuts across the path. You look ahead to where the trail takes an intriguing turn and see a forest floor carpeted with shades of green and shadow.
We are drawn deeper into the landscape by a natural curiosity and the desire to see what’s next.
The Role Garden Paths Play in the Landscape
When landscape architects design garden paths and walkways, they draw upon the same psychological and sensory framework to create that feeling of intrigue.
Garden pathways are not simply a means of getting from point A to point B. In the art of landscape design, the intent is to enhance the pleasure of the journey. A garden path can be designed to provide an experience as it guides you through the landscape.
Paths can give a lot of character to a landscape. You don’t always have to have a destination for it to be exciting.
Garden paths and walkways create a framework for movement throughout the landscape by connecting different outdoor living spaces and helping to organize the landscape as a whole.
Paths and walkways also serve as transitions from one type of garden space to another. They guide us through the landscape and frame the most attractive views as we proceed along the way. They help define space, create logical relationships between different areas, and bring order and balance into the whole landscape.
Five Garden Path Ideas That Create a Sensory Experience
1 Grass & Cobblestone Staircase
This wide shallow-stepped staircase transitions from a pool patio to the upper lawn area. The “risers” are cobblestone and the “treads” are grass. The design trick employed here is that the steps combine stone and grass to bridge the space between stone (the pool patio) and grass (the lawn). The solid lines of cobblestone lead the eye across the slope and moderate the ascent to the back lawn area.
2 A Meandering Garden Walkway
This meandering walkway reflects the landscape that borders it. On the garden side of that path, low-growing ground cover flows over the flagstone and softens the edges of the walkway—creating a natural relationship between plantings and hardscaping. The way the lawn and walkway fit together suggests a green wave that washed up onto the walkway.
3 Primitive Slab Stepping Stone Path
These oversized rough hewn slabstones draw the eye from the wide beginning of this steppingstone path to where it narrows and turns the corner at the back of the house.
The layered plantings and low overhanging branches that hug the pathway make venturing down it irresistible. Especially delightful is the lush ground cover filling the gaps between the steps.
4 The Straight and Narrow Pea Gravel Path
This straight, narrow pea gravel path points directly to a distant fountain. Multi-level plantings frame a view of the destination.
Low sedges drifting into the walkway soften the straight edges. The taller flowering shrubs and crape myrtles guide you to the fountain in the distance. The pea gravel is softer underfoot than a sidewalk would be. It plays with texture and blends with the informality of the grass-like blades of the sedges.
There is a formality in the repetition of the grasses, flowering shrubs, and small trees theme bordering the walkway that resonates with the classic formality of the distant fountain. The loose, slightly overgrown effect of the bordering sedges offsets the predictability of a straight walkway.
5 A Welcoming Front Yard Walkway
This front walkway features low stone walls sweeping out to either side of low steps that fan out to sidewalk level. It literally opens its arms in a welcoming gesture to the visitor and guides the eye in a direct line to the destination: the front door flanked by two trim container plantings.
Begin your project with a dream and a plan!
You are at the threshold of an exciting journey. This eBook will provide sound guidance as you take your first steps.
The Interplay Between Hardscaping and Plantings
The height and textures of plantings bordering the walkway have a profound effect on your experience of the journey. The landscaping may give the feeling of seclusion with overhanging foliage or a sense of spontaneity with ground covers that creep naturally over the edges of the path or walkway.
Another effect is created by the width of the path. Is it a narrow stepping stone path intended for a party of one? Or does it invite a stroll for a couple?
If a designer wanted to stage a dramatic entrance to a big garden, they might design a narrow winding path, closely lined with overhanging foliage and border plants, that open up for a grand entrance and unveiling of the first view of the landscape.
The sound and feel of the pathway material underfoot also influences the experience. You can use flagstone, grass, pea gravel, rough slab steppers, brick, or cobblestone.
Carefully planned garden paths and walkways bring unexpected depth and texture to landscapes large and small.
A well-designed pathway does two things well:
- It serves the purpose of getting us from point A to point B
- It immerses us in an experience of a journey taken for it’s own sake
The best-designed paths feel natural because they are based on the way we would intuitively move through a landscape, exploring and experiencing our surroundings.
If you would like to explore ideas for adding visual interest and intrigue to your landscape, schedule a consultation with one of our landscape architects.
If you’ve been thinking about investing in a landscape design project, our eBook: Expert Guide to Planning the Landscape Design of Your Dreams, is full of valuable information to help you get started.