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Decorating Beachy Style with Found Objects

Granite Garden Paths

Gretchen Schaumann, contributor

6 users recommend

The first path I built this summer.  The plantings are varying rosemary, creeping plants, violets, etc. 

The granite sticking out of the dumpster that I get it from for free!!!

Laying out the granite pcs is like working on a jigsaw puzzle.

An early Saturday morning working on the path in photo #4. 

This path comes into the garden off the driveway parking area.  The flowers in the background were planted from seeds and are annuals.

 

The first path I built this summer.  The plantings are varying rosemary, creeping plants, violets, etc. 

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Dumpster Diving for granite.  Now that is a heavy job. 

All summer I have been adding a huge garden out at our cabin, and have made numerous walking paths out of "junk" granite that is in a dumpster on the way to our cabin (how convienent).

I also have large chunks I've stock piled that are perfect rectangles that I hope to build something sturdy enough to hold the granite and maybe make a table, bench, or something out of them. 

My fil built a granite floor for a metal arbor that someone was throwing out. My fil and mil rescued, painted, and turned it into a sitting area down by their lake, with metal white furniture in it.  It's awesome.

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Comments (12)

Hollybreeze writes: I just found a place near Madison, Wisconsin that has lots of free granite scraps. You have inspired me to build a path in my back yard.I know almost nothing about granite, so I am wondering what's the worry with the cold weather? Does granite crack in the cold? Posted: 7:46 am on November 4th

RustyJo writes: Hey Gretchen, I just ran into the same luck of free granite! I've been breaking mine into peices and also live in Minnesota. I'd like to know how yours weathered the winter and any tips you have? I assume you ripped out the sod but what did you put underneath it? Sand? Gravel? Both? None? What is inbetween? I was debating about cementing mine. Thanks for sharing your path and pics! (And in advance thanks for your help!) Posted: 12:07 am on August 27th

artteachergirl writes: You are kidding right? What a lucky girl you are! I have lugged home pieces of broken concrete, but never been fortunate enough to find granite in a dumpster! What a lovely garden path you created...got muscles to prove it too I'll bet! Posted: 3:15 pm on December 29th

MimiToria writes: Lani-you can go dumpster diving with me and come to our cabin anytime that you can get away. It' 100 mile from our door to the cabin and 75 to the dumpster (on the way). We could go junking on the way out. Posted: 5:52 pm on September 9th

MimiToria writes: Again, thank you, thank you, thank you. This is such an awesome site Sue. My friend mentioned 2 weeks ago to me that she thought it was sad that so few people got to see our cabin decorating as it has mostly been done with Goodwill, Salvation Army, Occasional sales, flea markets and such. The only new items we bought are the mattress we sleep on, the futon our daughter sleeps on and 4 adirondak chairs we built from kits at JoAnn's for our front porch. Posted: 5:51 pm on September 9th

LuAnn writes: Gretchen:

Loved all of your pics regarding junk decorating. They are very inspirational. Can't wait to see what I can do with my "cottage" room.

Your garden is just great. I love anything to do with gardening, garden paths, and garden art. We always look forward to next year and what we can come up with.

Great job!!!

LuAnn Posted: 5:30 pm on September 9th

CottageElements writes: Gretchen, I have to go to your cabin with you sometime! Can I go dumpster diving with you, too? LOL. Thanks for sharing all the pics. I've not had a computer for over two days now and it was killing me! Glad to be back on-line!

Lani Posted: 4:44 pm on September 9th

Chovey writes: What a scrumptious work of 'garden art'...and free, too! Very, very nice indeed!
cynthia Posted: 2:42 pm on September 9th

suewhitney writes: Wow, girl! You are rocking this site today. The path and gardens are absolutely breathtaking. Love, love, love. I'll bet diving for granite was heavy business!

Be well,
Sue Posted: 11:51 am on September 9th

shabbychick writes: Great job with your granite path and garden! Your hard work has been well worth it - and getting to ski in between - sounds perfect!!

It is unbelievable the good "junk" that gets thrown out - and just think, we're only finding a "small" portion... What a great find for you!

Kathy Posted: 11:45 am on September 9th

MimiToria writes: Thanks! It's a work in progress, but I'm really looking forward to next Spring already, to see how it weathers the Minnesota winter, and for all my flowers to come back.
No blisters. A few scrapes and sore muscles (definitely), but between water skiing all summer and the laying of these paths its been a great workout. Ha! Posted: 10:05 am on September 9th

csudderth writes: I love your path and your garden. You've done an awesome job. Bet you have plenty of blisters to show for it.

Christy Posted: 9:55 am on September 9th

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