You can never have too many paths within a garden, either. I love to have them  winding everywhere.  If my husband says I should get rid of one for some pragmatic reason I say ….. definitely not! 

Edna Walling, the Australian garden designer, once said that if your paths are tidy the garden won’t look too bad. How very true, although mine are a complete, glorious mess in autumn.

The steps below lead up to the Australian native section of our property. It’s planted with bird attracting correas, banksias, and grevilleas. It was raining when I took the photo.

Garden path
Still pretty in the drizzle.

I know these bulbs are not native, but I allow them in. We use  garden waste on the paths up here, mainly tree fern fronds which we put through the shredder a couple of times. They suppress the weeds pretty well.

Spring bulbs bordering woodland pth
Spring bulbs bordering woodland paths.

I call this the Bluebell Walk.

Bluebell Path

This path runs outside my kitchen window. Hence the bird baths.

Spring path.
Tall correa, banksia rose and  sweet lithodora on the left, waratah and protea on the right.

Camellia petals and golden  leaves from the  Japanese spice tree have their moment in the spotlight.

camellia petals and maple leaves make a perfect path
Autumn turns this path into something special.

xMaple and tulip leaves mingle.

Maple mingling with tulip tree leaves.

My associate Editor Des loves riding around the paths on his bicycle.

Bear on bike path
The mountain bike path.
Editor Des riding through autumn leaves
Editor Des loves autumn leaves.
Maple and tulip leaves mingle.
Maple mingling with tulip tree leaves.

Sometimes a path emerges more by accident than design. This one was created by my husband and  me …..by continually walking through woodland shrubbery to check on our Wonga bird’s nest.

Path to Wonga nest.
The accidental path.

The birds were so adorable. It was  worth losing a bit of woodland to follow their progress.

Wonga chicks in nest.
Bright eyes.

These old flagstones were in place when we bought the property.  Let’s just say they push the rustic element to the limit.

Flagstone path
Summer –  aquilegias along rustic flagstones.
Hot lips salvia along flagstone path.
Hot lips salvia along the flagstone path.

The lower half of the garden is terraced (sort of). Lots of shade, hence the moss on the steps.

Mossy path
I love moss

On the right  of this terraced path there is a large port wine magnolia, a bird’s nest fern and camellias etc.

Shady path
Middle of the bottom garden.

Here we go down to the lowest terrace. There are  hellebores, rhododendrons  hydrangeas, ferns, camellias and daphnes. Spot that  native Wonga in the distance. He walks the network every day, just like me.

Shady path
Cool refuge in summer.

IDEAS FOR GARDEN PATHS

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