My garden odyssey: The western path

EPISODE XXII

HE SAID: In reading our books on Japanese gardening we learned that — traditionally — the tea garden is divided into an inner and an outer garden. We decided that we would treat our back yard as the inner garden and think of the front yard as the outer area. That left us with the space along the west side of our house as a transitional garden, which — up to this point — had functioned as the storage area for assorted construction materials. 

There wasn't a great deal here for us to work with. There was a good fence, six feet high, along the property line which ran nearly to the back of our yard. It was made of wide pine boards which had nicely weathered to a lovely neutral grey. The previous owners of our house had kept a small compost pile next to the fence which which caused the boards to rot a bit at the bottom, so we got rid of that. There were also some ratty looking remnants of burning bush growing from beneath the fence.

During Jon's last visit with the Bobcat, we placed a number of larger stones that would provide the primary structural outline for this garden. Two large stepping stones defined the ends of the intended path (first photo). And six "specials," rocks that had been shipped to Madison from Colorado by Madison Block and Stone on one of their trucks returning from a delivery, were also placed here.

I agonized a great deal over the placement of these stones, trying to get them to look as if their arrangement was completely unplanned. I still move them around in my mind from time to time. It's a good thing they are too heavy to actually rearrange. 

SHE SAID: These rocks always elicit lots of comments because they look like petrified wood. We were told by our neighbor's sister — a visiting geologist — that they are Argillite, essentially mud that's crystalized and pressed down. The dictionary defines Argillite as "highly compacted sedimentary or slightly metamorphic rock." 

HE SAID: We also gave a lot of thought to what the path that linked the two big stepping stones should be made of and how it should look. I wanted it to express the idea of a transition: from the gravel informality of the front garden paths to the more structured environment of the inner garden. I decided that these split sandstone blocks would work well. They are geometric without being polished.

We drew the path on a line connecting two singular features of our garden. At one end (above) you can make out a reddish-green boulder. This was another "special" rock I purchased that is riddled with mica and sparkles with reflective light. The problem with it was that it was a prima donna. For quite a while we couldn't figure out where to put it where it wouldn't dominate the scene. We finally placed it in the shade of the Spruce trees which tended to tone it down quite a bit. Here it is the focus from one particular location — the path — but barely visible from elsewhere in the garden.

The view in the other direction is of the obelisk, partially hidden by the 50-year-old Arborvitae that dominates the corner of the house. The large tree on the left (above) is a silver maple.

SHE SAID: I was totally taken with the cover picture on Ethne Clark's book, "Autumn Gardens," and wanted something similar (below) for this space. I found it in the old Heronswood catalog: Euonymous europaeus 'Aldenhamensis.' Dan Hinkley described it thus in the catalog: "spindle tree hybrid selected for its larger, brighter pink capsules securing glossy orange seeds, on long pediciles." 

I bought 3 for $8.00 each. They are probably three years old in the image above. I wanted tiny plants since this area has lots of root competition and it would have been impossible to dig a big hole for a typical-size nursery tree. Luckily, they are very fast growers!

So now there are Euonymous on both sides of the path. They do not get the amount of light they really want — which is fine by me — because both varieties stay open and lacy as a result. Nor do they set as much seed. Under the European spindle trees I put in an Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), the only one that has done well in any location in the garden. There's also a pale-yellow flowered Kerria japonica, a clump of yellow-flowered Trillium (Trillium luteum) and Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens). This native Pachysandra has mottled leaves and is more elegant to my eye than the more typical Japanese Pachysandra that most people plant. But I've had trouble getting it to spread and lost half of it one year to an unknown blight.

On the opposite side of the path, the rocks themselves are surrounded by half a dozen different varieties of  yellow Epimediums. Again, the mottled leaf color is a perfect foil for the brown and golds in the rocks. I like the fact that the flowers look delicate adjacent to the stones but can deal with the dryness, the shade and the root competition in this small space.

HE SAID: I've always been thankful that I didn't follow my initial impulse, which was to dig out the burning bush. Several times we have decided to leave something in our yard "for now" that ultimately turned into a very special feature.

The combination of thin stems and delicate leaves in their fall color hovering over the mass of the stone arrangement can be quite magical.

The stones themselves have also evolved, developing a patina of greens that glow when wet.

We have more plans for this little transitional garden. I want to build a gate at the far end of the path to signify entry into the inner garden. In fact, the name we always use to describe this garden is the "West Gate." I have several large trunks from the Arborvitae that we had to remove on the other side of the house. They'll provide the uprights and crossing beams. The gate and fence on either side will be bamboo. 

I also plan to build a bell house, a small covered shelter in which to hang our bronze bell from Southeast Asia. For now, it hangs from a limb of the remaining Arborvitae. It needs to be located nearer the path for visitors to be able to use it to announce their arrival.

There are also drainage issues that still need to be addressed, some fence boards that need repair, gravel that needs to be refreshed; and I've been thinking it's time to reconfigure the obelisk again — maybe go back to the spiral form ... or something new.

Nevertheless, finished or not, and what in our gardens is ever "finished," the western path has already become not only a lovely area to walk through, but also to linger in, at any time of the year.

For previous episodes about the design of our garden, click on My Garden Odyssey in the categories list. Click on the photos of our garden to enlarge them so you can see the details. 

Comments

[Lisa at Greeenbow]

I said: Ooooo this is a good pathway and the transitional garden is great even with all that shade. I love the big bell. Their sound is so comforting. I can't wait to see the bell house.

[Pam/Digging (Austin)]

Side yard gardens can be such special places, much more than just a pass-through. You made an inviting, interesting garden out of yours.

[keewee]

I love all the rocks in your garden. I would like to get my hands on some more for mine.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Some gardeners are lucky enough to find rocks buried when they start digging their beds. We never had that happen and wound up going to the "rock store" and buying ours. Fun but a bit crazy to buy rocks!

[Jim/ArtofGardening.org]

Man, I've been on vacation or busy, I have to check out the past few Wednesday installments. My favorite feature is the Argillite path. The geometric, yet "hand-hewn" look is excellent. Not sure if I can stomach buying rocks. But I have similar issues with buying ice and paying for parking.

[Sarah Laurence]

What nice stonework! Fun to see it in several seasons.

[Juliette Williams]

What a beautiful garden! I came upon your site today, and was so moved by your photographs I just had to offer my compliments.

[Driveway Wrought Iron Gates]

This is a really beautiful garden. Specially for fencing is good.

[Megan Payne]

The snow on the stones is a pretty wonderful sight. Heh, well, in any other season they really help make your garden effective!

It's a nice thought, to always have that work-in-progress, never "finished" attitude. Like the plants that grow there, your ideas come to life, changing and improving each time.

[Skip]

Doing research on pachysandra, and landed here, much to my delight. Wonderful things you've done here with your side garden! Nice to see it over time, too.