ON PAPER AND CANVAS AND SCREEN, WITH CLAY, AT A PLACE DIRECTLY WITH SOIL, ROCK, DIRT, PLANTS, ETC., IN WHATEVER ORDER
In the yard with some rocks (and after, with photoshop):
Below, (in the image which is a set of four photos), there is a photo, lower-left, of a short garden path and 3 flat schist rocks. The lower plan on the right works with ideas from the top two sketches. These sketches ( conceptual plans made with a photoshop “brush” and “eraser”) were made after making the small rock pathway.
The rocks begin a path; the rock portion moves to the left and forward, in an arc, and the trodden path on the ground then continues, stepping towards the right. This short interval between two longer paths which are of different directions and character, is an idea borrowed from a garden made a century ago – and it is a fun way to make a garden path interesting, and also divide different areas of a garden or yard, of an area.
The lines at 45 degree angles in the second drawing, like circle and line trees, spoons, or door keyholes, are a traditional permaculture features which are functional and efficient, and are a way to enjoy a garden and its bounty. (I have not yet verified precedents for this – but sometimes it would occur naturally). They generally are perpendicular to a path, although in these drawings, they are not – the idea was to place the paths at a short interval from another type of path – less than a step or perhaps a jump from the first (such a change, from path to path, not mine – it can be seen at more than one historical and contemporary garden, and actually, is the way a garden of all straight and parallel lines works as well).
These concepts do not consider any particular site, and therefore do not consider site topography, existing vegetation, animals and habitat, nor existing soils, soil microbes, and plant and animal companions – put that together with a garden design which further considers how people will use the garden – making, digging, pushing, walking, stomping (whoops- hopefully not), ambulating, socializing, and it will be yet more interesting.
Update on Maintenance:
Now it is fall 2020. The small rock pathway which inspired these garden sketches is regularly enjoyed. After over a year, the plants around the path, which are documented in the photo as a joyous abundance, were almost even more abundant and wonderful this spring, but with a summer drought some plants must have gone dormant very early.