In the summer of 2009, we redid the main paths in our pond garden, changing them from wood chips to gray gravel. We did it for aesthetics, for the sound when you walk on it and to reduce maintenance and the cost of replacing the wood chips. You can read about that project here (Pt. 1) and here (Pt. 2). This spring we tackled the front path that meanders through the geraniums along the street side of the garden. I do mean meander; this path curves in, out and around the trees and shrubs that dot this area.
We actually started this project a couple of years ago when we took up the old mulch but we never got any further than that. I got the easy work; my job was to widen the path to three feet along its 100' (30.48m) length. Mark made me the equivalent of a yardstick with a handle to use as a measure to make it a quicker and easier process.
I, of course, wanted to wait 'til the geraniums (three varieties of Geranium macrorrhizum) were in bloom so I could transplant the white and pale pink ones I pulled out and mainly discard the magenta ones. Our neighbors were also doing a big project at the same time and were happy to take lots of the geraniums for their garden, so I didn't have to feel bad about tossing tons of plants.
Mark was hard on my heels with his shovel, cutting sharp edges and digging out the dirt. Both sides of the path had been bermed up along this curve, so we added rocks to keep the soil in place and add a sense of contrast and definition. The rocks had actually been sitting in the grass at the beginning of the path near the driveway for the last few years waiting for us to get around to this project.
As Mark removed dirt, he sifted it through a riddle he made a number of years ago. That way we wind up with clean "fill dirt" to use elsewhere in the garden. Of course, a 100' path gives you a lot of soil to stockpile so we're lucky we still have one side of the house where we can hide such things!
As I mentioned, this path is in the midst of many trees; most of them are older and have very large root systems that go everywhere. That, and the extremely hot and dry conditions made this a long, tough job.
The temperatures were in the 90s while Mark was doing much of this work. When he took a break to sit in the shade and drink more water, he left an impression of "angel wings" — made with sweat instead of snow!
The temperature was only 87 degrees F. (30.55C) the afternoon the crushed orange gravel was delivered!
He managed to put down weed barrier and then get about 2/3 of the gravel put in place before he knocked off for the day.
The view below is the same as the first image, but with the gravel in place. Leading off to the left is a shortcut up to the central Moon Garden. This path remains a wood chip path as does one on the opposite side of the garden in the Birch Grove. It also functions as a wheelbarrow access to the central garden area without having to circle all across the front garden to get there.
The view below is the same as the third image showing the bermed-up curve. Mark estimates he still needs about another half ton of gravel to finish the project. The original gravel was delivered, but this time he will have to make a couple of trips to the stone yard himself. He is not looking forward to having to get it out of the truck and then still have to haul it across the garden.
Luckily the temperatures have dropped back to normal which will make finishing the path a bit easier. It sounds wonderfully crunchy when you walk on this path, and unless it is really rainy and wet, it doesn't seem to be sticking to our shoes.
If you look at the 2nd picture and compare it with the image directly ablve, you can see how lush the street side plantings are. From the curb you can barely tell there is a path here. When you walk through this part of the garden, it feels more isolated from the street than it obviously is. Part of that is the steep slope down to the street, part of it is the shelter provided by the trees arching above you and part of it is the fact that your feet on the path are lower than the plantings all around you. I've always loved taking the long way though the garden, and the change from wood to gravel on this path makes the trip even more pleasant.
All that hard work has paid off beautifully. You are blessed to have such an angel to work with you.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 08:20 AM
It's gorgeous. Paths certainly are a lot of work but I think it is one of the few things in the garden that has instant payback once you finally do it.
Good job. Wish Mark would have come to my house to help with the path!
Posted by: Erin @ The Impatient Gardener | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 10:03 AM
What a big job - tough to do in that kind of heat! It looks splendid. Good work!
Posted by: Barbara H. | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 10:30 AM
The path looks beautiful. I admire how thoughtful you both are in the planning and execution of this big job, and it sure is worth it!
Posted by: Altoon | Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Your weather sounds more like something we would experience down here. In fact it would be welcome after the past week. Anyway, the sweat was worth it, as the path is beautiful, and it shows off the plants too.
Posted by: Les | Friday, June 24, 2011 at 08:18 AM
Hmm, do you find the gravel stays in place better? We have wood chips. It looks great but I would think the gravel would migrate more than the wood. And what a job,the heat was probably tough but not like the rain we've been having. You would never get a thing done. Oh,I love the angel wings.
Posted by: Jeanne Heuer | Friday, June 24, 2011 at 10:50 PM
Yes, the crispness of the path really enhances the lushness of freer woodland plants. I know intimately what grueling work this is and want to salute and thank you, Linda & Mark! Not just for your labor but for the amazing process you two create and model for us in the garden and in life.
Posted by: Julie Siegel | Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 07:50 AM
Ah, I love your before-and-after garden posts. The gravel path looks wonderful meandering through those lush plantings. Your temps sound more like our typical June temps--but we've been 10 degrees higher than normal this month, with temps in the upper 90s and 100s. Blech. Stay cool!
Posted by: Pam/Digging | Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 10:17 PM
Amazing garden! I wish our looked like that!
Posted by: Tony Plants | Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 03:53 PM