because we expect to have more room to move about when outdoors. The principle walks in a garden should be wide enough for two adults to walk side by side. This means that the minimum width for a walk crossing a lawn is 4 1/2 feet. If you are going to have flowers spilling over the edges of a walkway, 6 or even 8 feet is better. If a garden's walks feel comfortable in relation to your body, you are likely to feel comfortable with the gardens proportions. Plants can tower over you or cause you to kneel down for a closer inspection, but you will be experiencing both of them from the walkway. My advice is to focus on the proportions of your walks and only fuss about the proportions of your plantings when you see obvious design problems. A plant that is too small today may be overgrown in 10 years. Just try to see your garden with fresh eyes every day.
This article is based upon the Handbook for Flower Shows, copyright 1997 by the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. 1999 revised edition.
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