Straight paths in gardens may have practical uses in facilitating a free passage from one end to the other and may afford a sense of neatness.
Winding Pathway
The winding pathway has attractiveness in addition to practical uses. This attractive element is an expectation, often ending in a lovely surprise.
One never knows what is at the end that twists and turns because one cannot immediately see the end of it, and while traversing it, one wonders where and what it leads.
Not so with the straight path. We stand at the beginning.
We see the end at once and then move forward with the knowledge that we shall eventually arrive at a hedge, a fence, a tree, a bridge, a sundial, or a trellis.
Straight Pathway
In fact, there is no romance in the straight pathway.
But, oh, the adventures along the winding path! The beginning may be commonplace, but a corner is turned, and a beautiful flower border is revealed.
Suddenly, an interesting sundial or garden figure comes upon at another bend.
And at another turn, the charmed one finds himself upon a soft green lawn beside a lily pool or a rock garden.
Do not these facts suggest another fact that the winding path can be an enchanting institution in the modern garden?
Small Gardens For Added Space and Greater Depth
Small gardens, having a winding path, give an impression of added space and greater depth.
It is the best way of making the small garden equal in appearance to one of the much larger dimensions.
To start walking down a garden path that is to all appearances straight and short, to find at the supposed end a continuation of the path “round the corner,” creates an impression or interest which otherwise could not be felt in so small a garden.
Planning Of New Garden
This should induce those who are planning a new garden or the re-organization of an old one;
- To introduce the path that suddenly gets “lost,”
- To be rediscovered in an entirely new setting
- To add the element of novelty and excitement to the ordinary admiration of flowers and foliage.
One might carry it by a hedge of rambler roses, a garden seat at the end.
An ornamental tree may be placed at a point, a clematis-laden archway, or a miniature shrubbery – all these and many others may be employed.
Wonderful Broken Paths For Charm
A broken path affords wonderful ways to add charm.
A pathway that makes a bend, appears to run parallel with itself, and is lost between high rock banks, is another device for giving an impression of spaciousness.
Simply placing a rock garden at a corner formed by a bend in the pathway will give a similar effect.
In early American gardens, we see winding paths bordered by old-fashioned roses, mock-orange, etc.
These are often lined by red brick or huge pebbles and are very effective.
44659 by Julia Wolfe