Dog-Paths

Taj-dog the Landscape Designer

I think my favourite paths are those which run right along the water race. They are collectively called the Dog-Paths. The water sparkles and shines, and so many different types of plantings are enhanced by being near running water.

What Are Dog-Paths?

A Dog-Path is by definition a path designed by a dog, and as a consequence is reasonably narrow. Taj-dog is a streamlined dog with a narrow probing nose, and does not require width. People, however, do, and some of the Dog-Paths are very overgrown.

Clumps of rushes by the water's edge and established flaxes must been allowed to stay exactly where they are. Path maintenance requires an axe to chop through tree roots so that the stone edge of the garden proper can be moved, and this is a slow hard job.

The start of the first dog-path

Designer Dog

To "design" the very first Dog-Path I watched Taj-dog heading off through the new garden by the water race and just copied his route. This original Dog-Path runs from Rooster Bridge past a large Wattle and then drops down to the very edge of the race by a big red flax.

There are Japanese Irises here, hostas, ligularias and some astilbes. These foliage plants are happy near the water, in the partial shade of the Wattle. The path continues right at the water's edge, then climbs gently back past a row of Hebes to reach the first of the grass areas, known as Duck Lawn.

The second Dog-Path runs from Middle Border upstream towards the Plank. This is a wet feet path, though it's wide enough for a wheelbarrow. The small retaining wall which defines the garden fascinates Taj-dog, who is always nosing into it and dislodging stones. There are tussocks on the stone edge, trailing rosemary, and in spring clumps of daffodils and tulips which can be seen and enjoyed from the top floor house windows.

Water Race Dog-Path (Archive)

Dog-Sense

This Dog-Path has changed in design and purpose. When first built it stopped at a red flax, and the gardener was ushered up some little steps and through to the grass.

The dog, however, just ploughed on through. Thinking that dogs have great path design sense, I made the Dog-Path continue along the water and emerge gracefully underneath a small tree (a much admired Cercis Forest Pansy).

When both the red flax and the tree bulked out, the Dog-Path extension was blocked. So it was back to the original endpoint, with fragrant roses to enjoy and a small Dog-Path seat to rest on.

Cats use Dog-Paths too!

A Cat-Path?

The third Dog-Path originally ran from Middle bridge downstream towards Rooster Bridge. This was always a narrow wet feet path which required supple bending and a good sense of balance to negotiate the large flaxes. It squeezed past a willow stump and several beautiful rushes and grasses with the most unusual seed-heads.

The path bravely kept to the water's edge, with an escape route up through Middle Border past the notorious Golden Hop. Huge drifts of daffodils covered it beautifully in spring - then all summer there were little gorse seedlings...

The route of this path is now only used for weeding. Water-side Pittosporums are now impossible to squeeze past without getting thrown off balance and landing in the water. Sadly the daffodils have been smothered by growth of vegetation, but the gorse seedlings seem to survive... Funny that...