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<\/a>A straight path at Stancombe Park in England leads to a\u00a0sculpture of a stag.<\/p><\/div>\n
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…. with this one.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Another straight path, at Sissinghurst, England..<\/p><\/div>\n
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Both are straight. Both lead directly to a visible destination. Yet their impact is very different.<\/p>\n
The reason is easy to see. One path is bordered with stone and neatly edged, the other’s undulating edge meets billowing\u00a0grass. The first suggests formality and human control over the site, the second conveys a comfortable sense of laissez-faire.<\/p>\n
Grass paths are common in gardens around the world — at least, in any location where grass grows well — and for obvious reasons. They are inexpensive to install and easy to maintain. Their consistent green acts as a foil to other colours.\u00a0They are soft underfoot, although that footing is often wet, particularly in the morning or after a light rainfall.<\/p>\n
And they are\u00a0tough. Grass can stand up to heavy foot traffic, although too many feet\u00a0walking the same ground can prove a challenge,\u00a0as this photo from RHS Wisley shows.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Is too much foot traffic responsible for the sad state of the grass or is it an infestation of some sort? Too much weed killer, perhaps?<\/p><\/div>\n
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Straight paths, whether of grass or any other material, lend a sense of structure and order. The mown paths at this apple orchard at Le Jardin Plume in Normandy form a grid punctuated at intersections by slender\u00a0apple trees. In autumn, the long grasses are swept to the centre of each square, creating mini haystacks that add bulk and height to a flat expanse.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Long grass swept into mini haystacks provides additional interest in autumn.<\/p><\/div>\n
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A similar pattern is used in this orchard in England, but here the trees are at the centre of the\u00a0squares.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>A small section of grass around each tree is left uncut to form a square. Do you think the square is too small? Too big? Just right?<\/p><\/div>\n
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Straight paths are formal while curving paths are informal: right? Well, not always. This path at Chanticleer, a wonderfully inventive garden in Pennsylvania,\u00a0could meander in any direction; aesthetics alone have determined the way it curves across the open grass. The curves provide a formal structure,\u00a0creating\u00a0a path that is as determining\u00a0as any straight line. Walkers have no choice but to follow the path. And delightfully so: it leads\u00a0walkers through an open space that might otherwise offer little of interest.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>The plants used to edge curving paths at Chanticleer change annually.<\/p><\/div>\n
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Paths that curve around flower beds may feel more natural and less directive\u00a0but they control\u00a0a walker’s path\u00a0all the same.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Grass forms a path between flower beds in this garden in Quebec.<\/p><\/div>\n
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As much as the path itself, the setting and surroundings influence how we respond to a garden. Those who prefer more obvious structure may like a garden path that is lined with trees, each set in its own\u00a0piece of squared-off ground.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>A tree-lined path at The Grove, the garden designed by the late David Hicks, leads through the wall to a stone pyramid..<\/p><\/div>\n
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Those who prefer a looser feeling may respond to a path edged with grass left untended, or mown only occasionally.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>I find this grass-edged path more formal than the one at Sissinghurst, shown near the beginning of this post. Can you explain why I might feel that way?<\/p><\/div>\n
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The width of a path also contributes to the impression it conveys. A narrow path like the one below suggests it is designed for a solitary walker\u00a0rather than\u00a0a group out for a convivial\u00a0stroll.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>This path is not as narrow as it appears to be: tall trees and the border of lady’s mantle\u00a0narrow the space visually.<\/p><\/div>\n
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How different is the atmosphere\u00a0conveyed by the path below. With its decorative stone flambeaux and\u00a0metal gates, open in permanent invitation, this path seems designed to impress rather than to invite contemplation. \u00a0The double rank of trees and the elaborate building at the end reinforce this feeling.<\/p>\n
<\/a>A grass path leads to an elaborate entertainment area in this American garden.<\/p><\/div>\n
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This path is\u00a0open to the glare of the sun. While this could be pleasant on a cool day, a sun-scorched patch of grass is not a sight to behold. Nor is it a comfortable place to be on a hot day.<\/p>\n
Most grasses require sunlight to grow well, which explains why covered paths are rarely made of grass. I have come across\u00a0exceptions, like this laburnum arch in England, where the grass appears to be in excellent condition. High levels of rainfall combined with\u00a0light use and heavy\u00a0maintenance may account for this.\u00a0The blossoming\u00a0roof\u00a0creates a tunnel that doesn’t enclose so much as enchant.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>A laburnum arbour leads out towards the countryside at Broughton Grange in England. I’d like to see some special feature at the end of this view. Do you agree?<\/p><\/div>\n
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Flowers and paths go together, whether the flowers are overhead, beside you or under foot. The little daisies growing in the grass below transform an ordinary path\u00a0into a flowery aisle, the sort you might envision for a romantic wedding where the bride wears\u00a0rose petals in her hair.<\/p>\n
<\/a>A flowery path at Castello Ruspoli in Italy curves invitingly\u00a0at the end. That curves makes me want to walk along the path, to see where it leads.<\/p><\/div>\n
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I like straight paths that lead to something interesting: a view, an urn, a bench. I like curving paths where the end is out of sight. I like\u00a0paths that offer a choice, like this one at Gravetye Manor in England. Shall I go this way or that? \u00a0I have to decide, and having that choice makes me feel like a participant in the garden experience rather than someone\u00a0being told what to do.<\/p>\n
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