Inspired path: lively paving and garden art lead the way to a satellite patio

All it takes to build a distinctive path is a dose of creativity and imagination.

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The corridor shown here connects two garden spaces, but Berkeley homeowner Randi Herman wanted its mood to be decidedly wacky and wild. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Herman envisioned the curvy tunnel Alice spirals through after drinking a shrinking potion.

Garden designer Raul Zumba helped bring Herman's idea to life. He used aged brick, randomly set in sand, to create the path, which ranges from 2 to 4 feet wide. Three freestanding doors--also inspired by the story--rise at the back of the planting bed; they add to the whimsy and screen the garden from a neighbor's yard. Colorful plants are changed out regularly to keep the look dynamic.

The path leads to a secluded 8-foot-diameter patio (pictured in the rear) enclosed by a canopy of Chinese hackberries. When the trees were young and flexible, Zumba wove the branches together to form a living shelter. Herman loves going through "a wild place that surprises and delights to a serene space. It's perfect for an end-of-the-day stroll."

DESIGN: Raul Zumba, Zumba Gardens, Oakland (510/703-8146)

PHOTOGRAPH BY SAXON HOLT

COPYRIGHT 2006 Sunset Publishing Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning