A pathway is much more than just a means of getting from point A to point B; it’s a journey. Whether just a couple steps to the front door or a twisting trail through a backyard, a journey can be made memorable with one simple design suggestion: repetition.
Repeating a crucial plant or colour, or both down the length of a pathway produces a feeling of movement, enticing the eye — and the feet — to research further. It produces a unifying theme while incorporating highlights which cause you to want to enjoy the experience.
Alyson Ross Markley
1. An Alluring Stroll
Plantings and walkway blend easily within this picture-perfect scene. One is naturally drawn to the partially obscured stacked stone sculpture however also wishes to linger on this delightful meandering path.
The colour palette concentrates on colors of purple provided by ‘Beni Otake’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Beni Otake’) and ‘Velvet Cloak’ smokebush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Velvet Cloak’).
The chartreuse leaves of ‘Mellow Yellow’ spirea (Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’), ‘Golden Spirit’ smokebush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’) and Bowles’ golden sedge (Carex elata ‘Aurea’) adds high contrast, taking center stage.
Rhododendrons add rich magenta accents, while black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) adds deeper black notes.
Essential plants and colours are repeated on alternate sides of the pathway, luring you deeper and deeper to the dappled glade.
AR Design Studio Ltd
2. The Boardwalk Experience
What a fun experience this stroll to the lakehouse must be. Neither directly nor curved, this jaunty boardwalk traverses the marsh in a zigzag, reaching its final destination by means of a ramp.
Cattails grow easily on both sides of the boardwalk in the shallow water, enhancing the experience. Maybe we’ll hear the trill of a red-winged blackbird or see a very small marsh wren flitting among the reeds if we take our time.
We might not have a natural wetland on our property, yet this design might recommend a new method to create a casual, naturalistic pathway using wooden boards simply teeming with trees that are taller, like maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’).
Le jardinet
3. An Intimate Walk
When the view is grand and the pathway sweeps from perspective, how do we design a pathway which feels romantic?
Waterfalls of gentle yellow Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) placed strategically along both sides of the walkway become trail markers within this Asian-inspired garden, leading us from one to another.
Layers of foliage in shades of green, highlighted with a deep burgundy ‘Crimson Queen’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. Dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’) will be the critical features in this design. The repetition of the textured mounding grasses ties into this foliage-focused subject while producing pools of light which naturally draw the eye.
Ann Kearsley Design
4. The Softened Straight Course
Straight avenues may easily resemble a runway, suggesting a fast entrance and leave with no reason to linger. To create the illusion of curves, then repeat a key plant. Purple catmint (Nepeta sp) and pink dianthus (Dianthus sp) are used within this photograph on alternating sides of the road.
As these mounds spill on the flagstone, the straight lines become partially obscured, while the eye is naturally drawn from a single purple haze to the next, all of the way to the renovated barn.
Who would not want to linger on such a superbly fragrant journey?
Peter Raarup Landscape Design
5. Woodland Highlights
Woodland paths naturally suggest a slower pace, yet they may be uneventful with no few highlights. Here groups of shade-loving caladiums have been repeated along the pathway, sweeping the eye easily from one side to the other and inviting people to observe where the disappearing route leads.
This contrast in foliage colour and feel makes the journey more interesting, although the repetition of those groups makes the wander memorable.
Do you end up rushing along your garden route, or do you enjoy those few moments? Simply by rearranging and replicating a few plants, you can transform the experience from predictable to exceptional.
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