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Their beauty and ageless promise of growth and greening have made gardens natural spot for healing and reflection . For this special garden , healing became the primary focus . It was create for a couple who were mourning the loss of their son , and needed a place where they could mend and meditate .
The labyrinth was designed to be a place of personal , psychological , and spiritual healing .
move by their story , designer Claire Jones , proprietor of Claire Jones Landscapes in Sparks , Maryland , decided to center the garden around a healing inner ear , a individual , non - branching path that lift to a special meditative distance . “ It is all about the journey to the center of the labyrinth , and a traveler is to walk it with intent and use . The track taken is for personal , psychological , and spiritual transformation , ” she says .
The situation opt for the internal ear was a small , secluded glade at the bottom of a incline in a grassy area . Because Jones was work within a confine space , she chose a contemporaneous knightly conception for the labyrinth , which has five lap . “ It give you a corking - duration journeying in a smaller outer space , ” she says . “ Old examples of these medieval designs are find on the floors of cathedrals in Europe . I ordered a templet of the conception preprinted on white landscape material online , as the design had to be establish exactly in Harlan Fisk Stone . ”
Since the site was on a side , Jones build a retaining wall into the hillside using large boulders of Pennsylvania field gemstone . She used a dry - put proficiency to set up the enceinte boulders , fix up them in a curve to squeeze the area of the labyrinth and create a special enclose outer space . Large arena gemstone steps place in the hillside principal from the upper sphere down to the labyrinth .
Once the rampart was complete , the flat sphere for the labyrinth was mark level . “ The most of import part of the problem was draw the base properly set up and index tamp down so that the stone would not shift , ” says Jones . “ The base was pen of tamped soil , tamp crushed rock , pitch-black landscape cloth , and topped off with the templet for placement of the pit . ”
especially cut bluestone and charcoal - gray gravel were used to produce the internal ear .
Jones reckon many materials for paving the labyrinth , but ultimately decide on using bluestone set into a crushed rock bag . A stone mason made numbered templates of all the curves in the labyrinth so that he could cut the stone precisely with a infield - tipped sawing machine blade . Every pit was cut to size and placed into position on the guide . Because bluestone is a innate fabric , each part varied in heaviness and had to be individually placed and leveled . dour oxford gray - gray gravel was identify in between the stones to contrast with the light-headed blue - gray color . A metallic element boundary stake around the circumference of the labyrinth hold the Harlan F. Stone static .
A small water feature prepares for the experience of walk the path .
At the entranceway to the labyrinth is a “ heart space , ” which is the first stop on the healing journey . “ This area incur you ready for the Zen experience of walking the path . It may be used for the location of any symbol that may enhance the apparitional usance of the internal ear . I designed it as an antechamber to the chief maze , with a small bowlder pee feature . As a walker , you may dip your hand in the piss to protrude the journey , ” say Jones .
A bowlder sits at the center of the labyrinth as a smudge for repose and reflection .
To conk out up the journey , Jones place a “ perching bowlder ” that one could rest on in the center . “ I look for the perfect sizing and shape . I did n’t want the bowlder to be too large and overpower the space , which was 5 feet in diameter . I wanted something to enhance the journey , ” she say . A woods bench was also added alongside the path leading to the internal ear to provide another arena for reflexion .
Because their son loved butterfly and lady beetle , the client wanted to surround the inner ear with plants that would attract them . Being both a landscape designer and beekeeper , Jones had a good knowledge of the best pollinator - friendly plants to employ for the emplacement , which has orbit let on to both Dominicus and shade ( see her plant life lean ) . “ To lighten up the shady areas , I used golden and vary plants wherever potential . During the spring , I fill in with some colorful yearbook , like wave petunias , zinnias , and verbena , to give pollinator more sources of ambrosia during the summer , ” she say .
The finished labyrinth is 24 feet in diameter and provides a total walk distance of 439 feet . “ This is phenomenal considering the total blank we had to work out with , ” says Jones . Her node walk the path often , either alone or with friends , and have found great comforter in the journey .
To see photos of the labyrinth garden as it was being built and to learn more about the account of healing labyrinths , visit Jones’garden web log .
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