Garden Paths

The Moosey Garden is full of wiggling, rambling paths to explore. I've created them quite randomly - often, after a garden has been planted, to add shape to a higgledy-piggledy border design. Most (not all) have sensible destinations, and inviting garden seats en route.

Dog-Paths

Often I'll follow an original route walked by people or dogs. I used to find found that Taj-dog, the first Moosey dog, showed good sense when defining a path. He was nice and direct, with a just few diversions to inspect points of interest. Paths that Taj-dog 'designed' for me are (naturally) called dog-paths.

A new path is visualised with a sweep of the hand, moving through spaces between the plantings. I use firewood logs or river stones for edging - such a path can be shifted in a few minutes, or removed totally without any fuss. I'm not a fan of no-paths. Gardeners and their visitors are naturally well-behaved folk, and like to know where they're allowed to walk.

But there are some path problems. Weeds - yes, as I'm not a fan of weed mat. My favourite surface is a soft bark mulch, or even the natural dirt. Overcrowding - yes. Tired gardeners do not have the energy to sinuously wrap themselves around an oversized pathside Phormium (flax bush), particularly when carrying a bucket and shovel. Some of my paths require gymnastic feats of bending to successfully be negotiated. Some need a sign banning wheelbarrows.

Other people's paths are inevitably more exciting than my own. I guess I always know where my paths lead to. One thing is for certain - none of the Moosey paths will ever stay the same for very long.

A Path Around the Pond...
Tue 1st Nov 2011

'Oooh - it's got a pond!' Words uttered when I first looked at the property which would soon become known as Mooseys Country Garden. Finally, seventeen years later, I can now gush with pride: 'Oooh! It's got a path around the pond!'

Paths Through the Shrubbery...
Sat 8th Oct 2011

In photographs my garden paths all tend to look the same. Some are edged with stones, some with logs, but they have the same foliage plants nearby. But take a wander through the Shrubbery and you'll find its paths are just a little bit different...

Dog-Paths...
Fri 7th Oct 2011

My favourite paths are those which run right along the edge of the water race, covered with small smooth stones. They are collectively called Dog-Paths. The water sparkles and shines, and so many different types of plantings are enhanced by being near running water...

Paths in the Wattle Woods Garden...
Thu 6th Oct 2011

The Wattle Woods are full of exciting garden paths. The main path, covered with soft bark mulch and edged by river stones, wanders right through the middle of this woody garden. It's wide and wheelbarrow friendly, too!

Willow Tree Garden Paths...
Fri 23rd Sep 2011

Digging of the Willow Tree Garden was completed in the year 2003, and a network of delightful little winding paths has taken shape over the following years. They wriggle happily through the rhododendrons near the water.

House Path...
Sat 1st Nov 2008

Gardeners (and the household pets) used to have a wet grass trip from the house decking around to the back door. That was before a small path of paving stones was laid along the edge of the lawn.

Down the Garden Path...
Sun 29th Jun 2008

I've gardened here for fourteen years, and paths have come and gone. Finally the Moosey country garden has a properly organised network of great garden paths, consumer tested by the cats and the dog, down which it's a pleasure to be led!

DIY Paths...
Tue 14th Aug 2007

Any female gardener young and silly enough to belong exclusively to the 'Girls Can Do Anything' club - this series of articles is not for you! It contains helpful hints for the manipulation of non-gardening partners (or NGPs) into generally helping in the garden. This article deals with DIY paths.

The Oak Tree Path...
Thu 5th May 2005

The Oak Tree Path gives the middle of the large sprawling Hen House Garden shape and a sense of form. It connects the path by the water race to Duck Lawn, passing underneath a scarlet Oak tree. But there have been four different versions in ten years...

Hen House Garden Paths...
Sun 30th Dec 2001

The Hen House Garden paths are a network of paths from Rooster Bridge to the hen house and through the gardens to Duck Lawn, the grass area beyond.

Laundry Garden Path...
Thu 27th Dec 2001

I use stones for edging all the paths in the garden, but the path that leads from the laundry out to the back lawn has stones laid in concrete. There are even some steps here with stones in their surface...

Middle Garden Path...
Tue 25th Dec 2001

The main path through Middle Garden starts at Middle Bridge by the water race and winds gently through the plantings to reach the grass beyond. It forms the main route from the house through to the Hazel Orchard.

Pump House Path...
Mon 10th Dec 2001

The pump-house sits on the fence-line behind the pond surrounded by gum trees. Until recently that has meant that the ground has been full of gum debris...