Create Nests: Treat Yourself to a Protected Walkway

Turn a garden path into an exploration of inviting nooks and beautiful views

Amy Renea January 25, 2012

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A pathway isn't made for lingering, cuddling up in a corner and nesting — or is it? A pathway can offer a restful passage from one place to another, a protected stroll through a beautiful environment. That passage can be a delightful walk through the woods — or your home — when it is designed with a few nesting techniques.

JSL Landscape Design Build

The same basic techniques for creating nests in a room space can be used in a walkway. This pathway does it all. A beautiful vista is created by the archway and the opening at its end, drawing visitors to explore the tunnel. If that tunnel were closed at the end, it would seem spooky instead of exhilarating and inviting. A vista is a must!

Another must: the encompassing plantings over the arch. Without the addition of grapevines, climbing roses or other climbing plants, an archway can can seem too empty.

Hufft

A sloped roof offer another classic nesting technique. In this walkway, the slope "protects" the occupant on the left, while offering an open vista to the right. That half wall is important too. Without that halfwall, there would be no solid surfaces aside from the roof. That half wall gives a sense of protection without cutting off the vista.

Patricia B. Warren, AIA Warren Architecture, LLC

A nesting walkway does not have to be an expansive arch or design feat. A beautiful old tree can be pruned to create a nesting walkway. Simply arch the tree over your doorway and you have created a protective side and an arching roof and your guest will feel welcomed and protected approaching your home.

Amy Renea

Another way to create a protected pathway is to simply offer curves. On a curved pathway, the stroller can "hide" around the next bend. A curve also gives the sense of a vista beyond, even if one does not exist. A simple straight walkway with woods close on either side, with no vista at the end creates a claustrophobic atmosphere and walkers will rush through. A curve invites you stroll peacefully.

Amy Renea

Open skies and a path carved out of the plains doesn't have to feel exposed. You can absolutely create a nest effect amongst fields of shimmering golden wheat or goldenrod. First things first: Pick a field that has a good amount of growth. This field is 2-3 foot high and offers protection on two sides, while maintaining a vista that surrounds the walkers. If the plantings are too high (think corn maze!), the walkway will feel dangerous and claustrophobic instead of restful and peaceful. After you have chosen the best field, choose a few choice trees and situate entrances, exits and curves by those trees. It gives the walker an end goal, a place to stop that is protected.

A tree on a path like this offers the same effect as the end of the archway in the photo at the start of this story. As you mow through the field, create wide, arching curves to allow walkers to feel protected — without feeling like they are in a mouse-trap game.

Living Colour Landscapes

This beautiful path follows many of the same concepts as the path in the goldenrod field. The path is wide and curved, offering strollers a glimpse of the vista beyond. While parts of the walk are open, there are resting spaces created under various trees. The plantings are built up on either side of the path to create a feeling of protection on a long walk. The pruned arch of the tree also offers a sense of entrance or exit.

CSDesign llc

Your pathways don't have to be designed solely around grand plantings. The addition of boulders on this path create a feeling of enclosure on one side, giving walkers a place to lean towards. If both sides are open, a walker may worry about falling off the side.

Traditional Landscape Edith Wharton's The Mount Gardens and Grounds

Of course, everyone's idea of a wondrous walkway includes a towering allée of trees on either side, their branches reaching out to meet each other far overhead. Add a little protective fog, a vista and a curve at the end of the path leading towards a new adventure, and this is quite possibly the perfect path. It also takes at least 30 years to create a path like this from scratch.

Randy Thueme Design Inc. - Landscape Architecture

If you are impatient for a beautiful path, you have options! One option is to plant fast-growing trees such as birch, poplar, aspen or willow. They do not have as grand of a presence as oaks, walnut or hemlock, but they give the same feel of a towering allée. Make sure to cut off any side branches under 10-12 feet for a high canopy. If you leave all of the branches to grow, the path will seem like a forest as opposed to an allée. Also notice the entrance created by the two sections of fence in the foreground. This entrance area gives the stroller a stopping and starting point similar to the large trees used in the goldenrod field.

Shirley Bovshow

Another quick fix is to train a climbing vine or perennial up and over a simple arch. A morning glory or sweet pea vine can cover this arch in a single season! Though not nearly as impressive as a giant archway that goes far into the distance, a beautifully planted archway will give a sense of protection overhead and create a vista. Again, notice the gate that gives a walker a sense of entrance and protection once they have passed through.

Amy Renea

When planting over an archway, planting asymmetrically is more pleasing than planting the same weight on both sides. Always plant the bulk of the weight on the side you want your guest to look away from. In this planting, a clematis adds extra weight to the left side over a simple climbing rose. Allowing a few of the rose canes to edge into the arch make a walker slow down as they walk through, taking a moment to enjoy the vista beyond and take notice of leaving the restful path.

Amy Renea

This is the walker's view at the end of this particular path. Although it is wide open at the moment, there is a new archway and a series of baby trees planted to create a second restful walkway. Notice how the bulk planting on the left draws your eye towards the right and the follows the angle of the second set of plantings?

Amy Renea

So remember, when creating paths that feel nest-like, enclose at least 3 sides, bring the ceiling lower with hanging plants, arches, a sloped roof or tree branches, offer a vista or curve in the path and enjoy your peaceful pathway!

More: Magical Garden Paths

How to Create a Nest at Home

Creating Nests in Unexpected Places

Cozy Outdoor Rooms