This 2022 garden addition was Lib’s idea, and we asked George Crump, founder of The Stone Man, to design this new feature that connects the Upper Garden and the Woodland Garden. That’s George, testing the arch. Kids, don’t try this at home.

The team from Charlotte-based The Stone Man installed our new arch in just a few weeks. It already looks settled in with a fresh blanket of January snow. We’ve been planting hellebores at its base and have ideas for the ledges on the sides.

The walking surface of the trails in the flat Upper Garden are crushed stone; the paths in the Woodland Garden are hardwood mulch. Both surfaces drain well after a rain. The paths throughout the garden are lined with Tennessee field stone.

To assist visitors (and us) navigate the 24’ elevation change in the Woodland Garden, we had handrails made. Jim Gallucci, a Greensboro metal sculptor, fabricated them from stainless steel. An epoxy resin, molded to resemble a black walnut limb, covers them. All handrails are set in 18” of concrete for stability and durability.

The massive stone that provides seating in the Upper Garden is actually just sitting on the two large boulders that support it. Don’t worry that it’s not attached - no one is going to move any of these rocks! Some visitors think the bench resembles “Pi.” What do you think?

The short retaining walls in MapleWalk are dry stack Tennessee field stone and built by Tom after taking a class on that ancient art. Not sure that his will last thousands of years like those in the British Isles.