Outdoor living spaces could go ignored without pathways to help people meander through the yard. Homes on two May garden tours — the Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour and the Keep Smyrna Beautiful Garden Tour — provide inspiration for stroll-worthy walkways.
Two of the homeowners shared tips for adding pathways and what inspired their outdoor rooms.
Lee Dunn, Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour (atlantabg.org/events-classes/events/gardens-connoisseurs-tour), May 9-10
The property: Dunn and her husband, Mike, have lived in their Sandy Springs home for 16 years and transformed the 3-acre woodland property by creating garden rooms with sculpture and unique trees.
The pathways: Garden designer Tim Stoddard helped the Dunns create a system of pathways to connect the property, which includes a kitchen garden, white garden and new cutting garden, and a collection of sculptures. Various paths made of pebbles, cypress mulch and stones link the gardens, especially as the elevation changes. The walkways allow Dunn and her guests to see prized plants and trees, such as the gnarled Harry Lauder's walking stick, a weeping bald cypress and 13 varieties of Japanese maples. "There were areas in the garden that I didn't access. Now I can access every corner of my garden through a series of wonderful pathways. It's all interconnected," Lee said.
The inspiration: A visit to Sissinghurst Castle Garden in England, with its renowned White Garden and its gray, white and green palette, motivated Dunn to create a Georgia version. The weeping bald cypress is in her white garden.
Larry Freeman, Keep Smyrna Beautiful Garden Tour (smyrnacity.com), May 16
The property: Freeman and his wife, Marsha, assembled more than 2 acres in Smyrna for a woodland garden with 10 varieties of Japanese maples and more than 15 varieties of ferns and hostas, along with other shade-loving plants.
The pathways: He designed and created rock trails along waterfalls, streams and ponds, bridges, pergolas, gazebos and fountains. "It has sitting areas and places to sit and read," he said. "I really like the wandering gardens that meander through different areas. That's what I tried to do."
The inspiration: Freeman said he picked the lots 20 years ago because of the creek in the back and began by adding a small bridge. Now, the property has eight water features for a soothing setting, he said. "I grew up on a farm and I just love running water," he said. Also, the garden has a magnolia tree and plants, such as dahlias, hemlock and ferns, that his parents planted in north Georgia and he transplanted to Smyrna. "I've been involved with plants now for 20 years," he said. "It's just a hobby that I inherited from my mom and dad."
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