Dog-Path Garden Seat

I've built a wooden seat into the low stone wall by the water race to mark the official area known as the Dog-Path Garden.

It's not a sensible summer seat because there's absolutely no shade, but in winter this seat has a sense of quiet magic. The water running by here always makes gentle gurgling noises. It's common for the dog to crash straight through the water to visit me when I sit here.

The Dog-Path Seat in the Winter of 2004

I can see upstream as far as the plank and the Willow Tree behind it. One of my first plantings was a large dark red flax at the water's edge. It keeps on growing fatter and wider - you can see it in the above photograph , taken in July 2004.

Dog Path Seat in its Early Days

Succulents Under the Seat

The plantings surrounding the Dog Path seat are varied. I've poked some succulents (Echeverias) directly underneath the seat planks. I keep changing my mind about the nearest plants - in fact I have occasionally changed my mind about the exact position of the seat! And my first plant ideas were a row of "shrublets" of a variegated Euonymous along the back, and pansies falling over the stones to one side. Things have changed!

Some of the roses growing nearby are beautifully fragrant. The strongest scent comes from the soft pink rose Sharifa Asma (my rose book describes it as 'honey-like'). The old rose Reine des Violettes is further back, but looks and smells beautiful. Nearer the seat I originally planted two healthy apricot roses which were fundraisers for New Zealand Dressage. They've been moved now to more spacious accomodation.

The Water Race, Dog Path and Dog Path Seat in 2002.

Over the Water

If I look up over the water I'm level with the back of the garage, which used to be a place for old planks and rubble. The plantings along the back fence towards the Pergola have always been worthy of garden gazing - particularly the cherry rose in flower scrambling above the Chatham Island forget-me-nots. They are an inspired combination. And recently I have cleared the garage back, and created a stylish garden and rockery which features the old dog kennel.

Visiting Ducks

I've been sitting on the Dog Path seat when families of ducks and ducklings have floated past. By the time they reach me they've been committed to their direction of travel, and I've tried to stay very still as they flap and skim past. I often sit here dreaming, just watching the surface water dancing. There'll be some loud sloshing sounds and Taj-dog will arrive midstream. The water race is the perfect depth for cooling the chest of a dog.