MNN - Mother Nature Network

A bit woozy from dehydration, I am finally relaxing with a glass of ice water after six hours in the garden.  I have been wanting a little path in my garden for a long time.  I have tried several designs - one that leads to the mail box and through a front yard vegetable garden, another that swerves around a bamboo trellis, and paths that slip in and out of azaleas and different trees.  Two years ago, one of my friends had a beautiful garden wedding.  Since then, I have been stuck on the style of path that incorporates a circular area.  Recently, I found a photograph in the August issue of "Southern Living" that would inspire today's sweaty and backbreaking work: 

A 46 inch wide, 6 foot long path lined with lambs ear and northern sea oats leads from my front door to the circular area.  For the center of the 8 foot diameter circle, I stacked a topiary on top of a cement urn. I planted green and gold around the base of the urn, and lavender plants around the circle.  A 23 inch wide, 6 foot long path leads from the circular area into the fruit tree orchard.  This path is lined with monkey grass that is now carrying purple blossoms.  
 
The first step was outlining and measuring the paths and circle.  Secondly, I transplanted plants to where I wanted them.  I finished up by watering the plants with rain water, and mulching with hay.  The best part of this project is that these plants have already proven hardy in my yard.  The plants probably won't fully recover until next spring.  With these drought tolerant perennials I will be able to enjoy my version of this "Southern Living" garden.