There is a growing interest in landscaping with rocks: good news for the many collectors who fill their pockets or go to great lengths to haul favorite boulders. From rock garden formations, where rocks of varying size and color form the garden itself and plants are filled in around them, to the popular art of rock balancing, in which rocks or stones are stacked in sometimes-towering arrangements that appear as impossible feats, the trend is to feature your favorites in artful ways. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Treat your backyard as an outdoor art gallery by creating various exhibits. Fence off a square of your property and get busy stacking stones. These natural sculptures have a gravity-defying appeal, whether they are created with two stones or 20. Finding the center of gravity for each rock can be tricky but with practice you can create a garden of mysticism and interest.
2. Line a garden pathway with your collection. Whether you are drawn to heart-shaped rocks or stones in hues of red and gray, lining a walkway makes a visually attractive rock statement. Just follow your meandering rock path to a garden gate or an outside shed for a practical application, or create a pattern for an outdoor patio or meditation sanctuary.
3. Gather large rocks and stones and build a stone wall. This age-old practice is a charming way to provide a natural backdrop for flowers or plants. Or choose a few large slabs to feature as benches or sitting stones. A favorite rock can also be matched with a water feature for a peaceful retreat.
4. Create a firepit made from stone. Chairs and tables made from stone and rock and placed around the pit make a welcome invitation at dinnertime or on chilly nights.
Tags: rocks stones, from stone, made from, made from stone