When you create your own cozy corner on the site, then there is an irresistible desire to make it not only attractive, but also extraordinary. You can satisfy this desire with the help of such an idea as the design of a labyrinth.
It should be noted that this task is far from being possible for everyone, because it is not easy, but very exciting. With the right approach and thoughtful preliminary design, building a labyrinth will not take you much time.
How to create a decorative labyrinth?
In order for you to end up with a good result, you need to follow the work in a certain strict order:
Stone;
fantasy;
Garden labyrinth.
To make the right and right decision, you need to familiarize yourself with each of the types of labyrinth and, when choosing, pay attention to the following criteria:
Combination with other landscape forms already used in the adjoining area;
The size of the territory of the site under the labyrinth;
Landing and construction skills.
Creating a labyrinth of stones and its benefits
This way of creating this type of labyrinth is quite simple and allows you to achieve the maximum level of originality when decorating it. This type of landscaping has many advantages over other options. For example, the most important ones are:
1) high uniqueness and originality of each of the projects; 2) fast execution of a larger amount of work; 3) the result will be noticeable immediately upon completion of the space; 4) low cost; 5) availability of building materials; 6) the minimum time spent on caring for the area with the labyrinth, inclusive, until you decide to try to change it; 7) the attractiveness and originality of the landscape will be ensured not only in the summer period, but even in the winter season; 8) variety of species, both artificial and natural.
As for which stones should be preferred, then no special recommendations are needed for this, it all depends on your artistic taste and financial capabilities. For the construction of a stone labyrinth, almost all types and types of stones with a different nature of their origin can be suitable: crushed stone, gravel, boulders, pebbles, blocks, cobblestones.
The main requirement is the correct ratio of all the dimensions of the site with the parameters of the material. For example, large boulders on a small house territory will not be appropriate. But smaller options in this case would be preferable.
How to create a maze flower bed
This option also does not differ in any particular complexity, but at the same time it can provide saturation, brightness and showiness of the site in the period from spring to autumn. A very important point is the selection of a pattern for planting flowers and combining them in height and color.
It should be noted that the undeniable advantage of such a solution is:
The possibility of designing a labyrinth even in a small area;
Rapid display of the result of the work done;
Small amount of time for supervision and care.
What flowers should be used to form this labyrinth? The answer is pretty simple. When choosing a variety of flowers, please note that you should not use those species that can be actively reseeded to areas adjacent to this planting site. If this happens, then you will not be able to achieve a clear and definite delimitation of the territory. In this case, the lines of the selected pattern may certainly be broken.
It is necessary to give preference to such types of flowers:
1) Rose curb.
2) Dwarf snapdragon.
4) Coleus.
5) Fritillaries.
6) Narcissus.
7) Tulip.
8) Salvia sparkling.
The variety of shades of these rocks is very wide and therefore it will not be a problem for you to come up with a more interesting solution for creating contrast in the neighboring figures of the pattern of this labyrinth.
The main distinguishing features of the labyrinth garden
To equip such a landscape form, it is necessary to zoning the infield, based on the selected pattern using. For this purpose, different types of shrubs are most often used, which can be easily cut.
If you have decided to give preference to a labyrinth of plants, then it should be noted that the plants will require thorough care for them, as well as regular molding. Because otherwise it will not be possible to achieve the desired result, and all vegetation will turn into a shapeless mass.
The choice of plants depends solely on your imagination, but still, there are the most acceptable options, thanks to which you can create a beautiful hedge, but with minimal waste of your precious time:
1) Derain white;
2) Common privet.
3) Boxwood evergreen.
4) Derain is blood red.
5) Small-leaved elm.
6) Common laurel.
7) Cotoneaster brilliant.
If you want to plant annual plants, then turn your attention to a plant such as broom cochia. The height of this shrub can reach one meter, and it gives abundant dense greenery.
Creation of attractive paths and characteristic features of the design of the labyrinth
When creating attractive walkways, there are a few specific rules to keep in mind at the design stage:
1) You may prefer more sinuous shapes when designing the maze.
2) If, nevertheless, they gave preference to the classics and clearly calibrated geometry of all figures, then make the paths straight with the same width along the entire length of this labyrinth.
3) When choosing a material, consider the following nuances:
They will look interesting if they are made of wooden saw cuts. They will emphasize the beauty and originality of the entire incredible landscape;
Paths strewn with gravel or small pebbles will look more natural;
Excellent options for creating a pedestrian zone of rather large width are artificial materials (clinker brick or concrete), as well as large natural slabs.
When designing a labyrinth, the amount of work will be different and it depends on the scale of the territory for the labyrinth and the specific type already selected, but still the sequence of stages of this work will remain unchanged:
1) First of all, separate the area to create a maze.
2) Delimit a certain area for the labyrinth with pegs and rope, based on the lines of the selected pattern.
3) Gently and carefully remove the sod throughout the area.
4) Dig up the entire area.
5) Level the ground with a rake.
6) Beautifully decorate the walking area with the help of selected materials.
7) Holding the project with precision, plant the plants and lay out the stones.
8) The removed parts of the turf can be laid on free areas.
9) Compact it lightly to ensure the integrity of the ground cover.
And in conclusion, I would like to note that even despite the difficulties in creating a labyrinth, its attractiveness and originality, with the right good design, will constantly delight your eyes and your guests. If you nevertheless made such a decision how to equip your own site in this way, do all the work with the utmost care and accuracy, so that later you will not be disappointed with the result obtained upon completion of the project. Start with the simplest forms, without trying to immediately complete some complex task, and in the future you will successfully expand your own space.
Developing a fantasy maze with your own hands (Video)
Such a solution is acceptable if you have a large adjoining area and you like to do most of the planting and construction work yourself. In other words. A fantasy labyrinth is a kind of combination of all the previously listed types of this landscape form in a purely individual order.
Such projects are very complex in their design. It should be noted that often contrasting and smooth transitions from one figure to another can cover the entire area.
You must understand that it is difficult to create such a labyrinth on your own, and this requires excellent artistic taste in order to correctly distribute a wide range of species of stones and plants. And it will also require constant and complex care for the plants so that they remain in the same attractive form.
For more information about the labyrinth garden, see our video
One of the most memorable scenes in Three Men in a Boat, not counting the dog, is the scene in which the main characters enter the labyrinth.
Labyrinths of dense hedges have long been a symbol of baroque luxury. They have always fascinated people and at the same time slightly frightened. And although their popularity has declined significantly in the modern world, there are still a huge number of these magical living mazes that continue to grow. Here are examples of winding examples of garden architecture, in the corners of which you can still get lost.
Longleat Manor Maze (Wiltshire, Warminster, England)
With over 16,000 English yews, Longleat's hedge maze is one of the longest in the world. The length of its corridors, consisting of approximately 16,000 yew trees,about 2.7 kilometers, and the total area of the labyrinth is 0.6 hectares. Since the 16th century, this territory has belonged to the Marquesses of Bath, who in 1975 allocated part of the territory of their estate for a huge hedge maze. Later, smaller labyrinth gardens were built on the estate. "Sun Maze" / "Sun Maze" and "Labyrinth of Love" / "Love Labyrinth".
Masone (Parma, Italy)
The largest labyrinth in the world is Masone, which was built in an Italian city famous for its parmesan cheese. Curiously, the labyrinth was created as a result of a dispute between Italian publisher Franco Maria Ricci and writer Jorge Luis Borges. When Ricci announced that he wanted to build the world's largest labyrinth, Borges replied that it was impossible.
The star labyrinth, which opened in May 2015, was built using 200,000 bamboo plants and spans a whopping 8 hectares. Seventy-year-old Ricci used fast-growing bamboo instead of traditional trees and shrubs to see the maze ready before he died.
Andrássy Castle (Tysadob, Hungary)
Located along the Tisza River near the Hungarian-Slovak border, the boxwood and yew hedge maze at Andrássy Castle was supposed to resemble a huge squid from above. The castle itself was built in the 19th century for Count Andrássy.
Pineapple Maze (Wahiawa, Hawaii)
This permanent hedge maze, which was the largest in the world before Masone was built, is located on Hawaii's Dole Pineapple Plantation. It consists of 14,000 pineapple bushes that are fragrant for the entire four-kilometer path through the labyrinth. The huge pineapple maze Dole Plantation is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. This labyrinth not only has intricate paths, but also magnificent scenic spots. Tourists have the opportunity to search for a way out, accompanied by a special audio recording that tells the detailed story of the creation of pineapple plantations in Oahu. At the end of the walk, each chosen one receives interesting prizes.
Labyrinth of Villa Pisani (Stra, Italy)
It is often said that, despite its small size, the labyrinth in the territory of Villa Pisani is the most complex in the world. Guides like to tell that in 1807, walking along the winding paths of the labyrinth, Napoleon got lost in it. It is not known whether it is a bike or not, but the labyrinth built in 1720 by the rich doge near his villa is one of the most beautiful in the world.
Corn Maze at Richardson Farm (Spring Grove, Illinois)
Every year, a so-called corn maze is created on a 13-hectare corn field. Moreover, its design changes every year - for example, in 2013 the labyrinth looked like a portrait of the Beatles from above, in 2014 it looked like a US flag, and in 2015 the design of the labyrinth was dedicated to the victory of the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL.
Peace Labyrinth (Casluellan, Ireland)
The 1 hectare Peace Labyrinth was planted in 2000 to celebrate the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (an agreement to settle the political conflict in Northern Ireland). It consists of two parts, and in order to complete the maze, you need to cross both. There is a tradition: the one who has reached the center of the labyrinth rings the Peace Bell located there.
Ashcombe Maze (Victoria, Australia)
More than a thousand Monterey cypress trees were used to build one of the oldest plant labyrinths in the Southern Hemisphere. Since the 1970s, cypresses have been carefully sheared twice a year, with each shearing session lasting a full month. Visitors need to go through two halves of the labyrinth, each with its own unique design. And next to the cypress labyrinth is another labyrinth, which was created from more than 4,000 lavender bushes.
Hampton Court Palace (Surrey, UK)
The oldest surviving hedge maze in the United Kingdom was planted in the late 1600s for King William III near Hampton Court Palace. Initially, it was made from hornbeam, but then the trees were replaced with holly and yew. The Hampton Court maze is known as one of the most difficult in the world. And although it is not the largest or most difficult maze, the Hampton Court maze is one of the oldest in the world. For more than 300 years, he has been making his visitors wander for hours. This maze is "multicursal", which means there are several possible paths to the exit. It is this variety of choice that has entertained people for several centuries.
Orta Labyrinth Park. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona's oldest garden is a lovely angular hedge maze, laid out in the late 1700s. Its winding cypress corridors, some 750 meters long, lead to Italian-style terraces and balconies. And the one who gets to the center of the labyrinth will meet there the statue of Eros - the Greek god of love. And this is hardly an accident, because getting into the "heart" of a fantastic historical garden is not so easy.
Glendurgan Garden Maze, Cornwall
Created over 170 years ago, this twisty, rounded puzzle continues to confuse visitors to this day. The hedges of the laurel labyrinth of Glendurgan resemble snakes coiled in the grass. Closest to the center of the labyrinth is an arbor, towering above the foliage, but the structure of the labyrinth is such that even here you feel only halfway to the goal. The creator of the labyrinth deliberately complicated it, making it asymmetrical, unlike most other world-famous labyrinths.
French labyrinth Reignac-sur-Indre
The labyrinth of Reignac-sur-Indre has been called the largest man-made labyrinth in the world for more than sixteen years. The "green" labyrinth is located in the small provincial town of Touraine. The peculiarity of this place is that the paths are different every year, because the planting site is changed every year. An unusual work of art appeared thanks to farmers who wanted to draw public attention to the problems of the city. At that time, men did not even suspect that they were creating something more than just a maze. Every year, thousands of fans of extreme entertainment come to take a walk in such a garden.
Massachusetts Davis Mega Maze
The huge maze Davis Mega Maze is famous for its scale and unpredictability. This labyrinth is located in the USA, in the state of Massachusetts. Every year, more than 10,000 hours of farmers devote to the labyrinth. Every year this place is transformed into something new, no one can predict what the garden will look like. Tourists can wander for hours and look for a way out in the labyrinth.
Top Pearsy's Maize Maze in the UK
The Forge of Empires diamond cheat is the very way that many FoE players are looking for, allowing you to get a lot of diamonds without investing money. For some reason, many are sure that if you enter a certain code on a computer or run a script, then the number of diamonds in Forge of Empires will increase by itself. In fact, there is no such code, of course, but there are many ways to get diamonds in the game in an honest way. This article will discuss the main ones.
What are diamonds in FoE
Diamonds are a special resource that allows you to simplify various tasks in the game, for example, you can:
- speed up exploration of provinces,
- buy more productive premium resource or residential buildings,
- purchase extensions for the city,
- open an additional place in the military building,
- heal units,
- buy missing blueprints, as well as goods necessary for the construction of Great buildings, regardless of your era, etc.
Ways to earn diamonds in Forge of Empires
1. The easiest way to get diamonds in FoE is honestly buy them for money. No matter how gamers treat donators, it is money invested in the game that allows it to exist and develop further. The minimum amount for which you can purchase diamonds is quite democratic and is only ~140 rubles for 110 diamonds (available when paying via SMS).
Before moving on to other ways to get diamonds in Forge of Empires, it is necessary to make a small digression and talk about one feature of the game. The fact is that in FoE you can develop on several servers, and on each of them you will have a separate city with its own technologies, resources and Great Buildings. However, if the number of coins, hammers and goods on different servers is absolutely unrelated to each other, the diamond account will always be the same, which allows you to create additional worlds in FoE that will be used to earn diamonds for the main city. Such “dopas” are called bruleferms.
Thus, using the methods listed below on multiple servers, you get the opportunity to earn more diamonds for the main world.
2. The easiest, but, alas, not guaranteed result method for beginners is completing quests. Quests that allow you to get diamonds are basic, which you cannot refuse, and random with a random reward - coins, resources, goods, or, in fact, diamonds. In each era, there are always main tasks with diamonds as a reward. In addition, they can also drop in a random quest, the reward for which is hidden.
All received diamonds can be used on any server, while coins, hammers and goods will only be available in the world where you completed the task.
To increase the number of diamonds obtained in this way, the Great Building of Château Frontenac (or simply Château) is very important. It increases the reward received by a certain percentage, depending on the level. So at level 20, the Sun doubles the reward received.
3. A guaranteed number of diamonds can be obtained for capture of some provinces. Their number is strictly limited and predictable. You can capture these areas in all the worlds where you play and spend diamonds on the base. The first such province will appear on the map no earlier than the Early Middle Ages.
4. Also, diamonds often drop out as a prize for passage of the expedition. However, there is also some difficulty here. Those who have been playing Forge of Empires for some time know that the expedition can be completed in two ways - defeat armies of units or solve puzzles that require the cost of goods.
The first two levels of "exp" difficulty will most likely not cause you any difficulties, and over 3 and 4 you will have to work hard. For the combat method of passing, it is necessary to pump the Great buildings that give a bonus to attack - Zeus, Aachen Cathedral (Aachen) and Castel del Monte (Castel). And for the commodity, the presence of goods in the inventory will be required. And if for the main world the passage of all 64 points in the expedition will not be difficult, for the additional city, which you visit occasionally, it will be difficult.
The probability of getting diamonds in chests is as follows:
- 4 chest = 10 diamonds (5%)
- 8 chest = 10 diamonds (10%)
- 12 chest = 10 diamonds (15%)
- 16 chest = 25 diamonds (20%)
- 20 chest = 15 diamonds (5%)
- 24 chest = 15 diamonds (10%)
- 28 chest = 15 diamonds (15%)
- 32 chest = 50 diamonds (20%)
- 36 chest = 25 diamonds (5%)
- 40 chest = 25 diamonds (10%)
- 44 chest = 25 diamonds (15%)
- 48 chest = 100 diamonds (25%)
- 51 chests = 25 diamonds (50%)
- 55 chest = 25 diamonds (50%)
- 56 chest = 50 diamonds (50%)
- 59 chest = 50 diamonds (50%)
- 63 chest = 50 diamonds (50%)
5. Diamonds can collect from special buildings, which can be obtained during various events. At the moment, there are three buildings in the game that give out 50 diamonds with a 1% chance - this is a well, a fountain of youth and a hedge maze.
Usually it is from such buildings that the so-called brulefarms are created - a kind of cheat for diamonds in Forge of Empires. If you've ever ventured into a player's town where there's little to nothing but a bunch of wishing wells, you know what a diamond farm looks like. We will consider its creation in more detail below.
6. An interesting way to get diamonds is invite friends by referral link. The higher the level they reach, the more reward you will receive. However, this method is available mainly to the owners of their sites or forum moderators, since it is quite difficult to attract a large number of people.
Some players "invite" themselves through the link and develop their own cartoons. However, unlike some browser games, the developers of Forge of Empires are extremely negative about multiplayer, and at some point you will be banned.
7. A very peculiar way - simulation of the disappearance of interest in the game. Of course, very little is known about him, and the developers will never reveal the secret of exactly how the mechanics of this simulation work.
However, many players notice that if you start to enter the game less often, or even completely abandon it for a while (for example, for a vacation period), a special algorithm will put you on the list of people who need to be stimulated, and at some point you will the account will receive a certain number of diamonds
8. Diamonds often issued as a reward in various events. However, it is only possible to predict exactly when the game event will take place and how many diamonds will be distributed, based on past events.
Not a cheat for diamonds, but the creation of a brule farm in FoE!
Brulefarm is the main way to farm diamonds in Forge of Empires, and it is absolutely legal and approved by developers who do not mind players developing in different worlds, but spending the premium resource only in the main.
Brulefarm is a city created in addition to the main one and sharpened for diamond mining in one of the ways mentioned above.
The most convenient way to get diamonds is to constantly collect from the above-mentioned buildings (the well, the fountain of youth and the hedge maze). Although the probability of “knocking out” diamonds from them is only 1%, if you install several dozen such buildings in the city, then the chance of getting them will increase significantly. Therefore, the main task in creating a brule farm is to install many wells and fountains of youth in it.
Buildings from which you can get diamonds are issued by the game during various events. However, it is necessary to create a new world at the time in advance (at least a month) before the start of the event, otherwise you simply won’t be able to complete many quests: for example, you won’t have enough coins to buy, there won’t be silver in the tavern to activate the gain, and the army will be too weak to pass the points in the expedition.
Your goal during the passage of the event should only be to receive wells, you should not be distracted by any other prizes. And, of course, you don’t need to spend diamonds on completing quests (for example, to speed up production or exploration of provinces), otherwise it will turn out to be a paradox: they created a city to earn diamonds and spent them there.
After you get the first 2-3 wells, you can say that your brulefarm has begun its work. Now you can enter your additional city once a day and collect what the wells will produce.
However, it is better not to limit yourself to wells, but to develop your farm further in order to improve it further. Firstly, you can sharpen it for completing circular (repeating, non-main) quests, where diamonds may be among the random rewards. Typically, such tasks include performing daily productions, collecting a certain number of coins or hammers, as well as spending them instantly. Those quests that are difficult for you to complete for some reason can be skipped by pressing the "Refuse" button.
To increase the rewards for quests, you should place such a Great Building as Chateau Frontenac, it has already been mentioned above. This aircraft belongs to the era of Progressivism, so the goods for its construction will need to be bought from one of the top players. You can search for a seller in the global chat. It is advisable to find someone who will offer goods in exchange for CO for a contribution to the same Chateau in order to receive both goods and aircraft blueprints at the same time.
Whether or not to build other Great Buildings, look at the circumstances - the availability of blueprints, a place in the city. If you plan to earn diamonds not only from quests, but also from completing expeditions, put VS with an attack bonus - Zeus, Aachen Cathedral and Castel. Particular attention should be paid to Zeus, since it is quite simple to assemble drawings for him. Castel, in addition to an increase in attack, gives a certain amount of CO per day, however, it is somewhat more difficult to recruit drawings for it.
For a good that may be needed to unlock some technologies or quests in the event, place the Tower of Babel (Bronze Age, very easy to collect blueprints) or St. Mark's Cathedral. This is much more convenient than a lot of industrial buildings, which, moreover, can be robbed.
How often you will apat an era is up to you. The higher the era, the more dangerous (more experienced and active) the neighbors there are and the more often you will be robbed, noticing that your world is not the main one. The circular quests that must be completed also become more difficult.
Here is an example of a brule farm from the Iron Age:
Currently, events allow you to replace the quest to discover new technologies, and therefore, the transition to a new age, if you already have all the sciences, by investing a large amount of goods in the guild treasury. Therefore, be sure to save up your goods - you can put it on daily production so that the building is more difficult to rob. Or pump over Babylon and Mark, which were mentioned above.
You can upgrade the brule farm alone, but it's better to join a guild. This will give access to the Expedition, and also allow you to exchange goods without spending strategic points. It is very important to choose a guild where there are no special requirements for participants, such as a tax on goods or the mandatory passage of all levels of the exp. There are many such guilds, they are most often at the very bottom of the rating and allow you to join them through auto-joining.
Of course, this way of farming is not a full-fledged cheat for diamonds in Forge of Empires, but it completely allows you to farm a certain amount of this premium resource. And how many diamonds you can earn in this way is up to you.
Probably, everyone remembers from childhood how the heroes of Jerome Clapk Jerome wandered through the green maze of Hampton Court. Everyone also remembers the wonderful myth about the frightening Cretan labyrinth of the Minotaur and the saving thread of Ariadne in love. For many centuries, people built various labyrinths - first for sacred, and then for artistic purposes.
Labyrinth - a section with specially tangled passages between cut dense greens (for example,% 20 hornbeam, lindens) inside the park. That's what the encyclopedia says. The Dictionary of Symbols states that the labyrinth is a metaphor for man's journey from birth to death. From a technical point of view, a labyrinth is a complex system of paths and passages leading to a certain goal - the center of the labyrinth.
The very first depictions of labyrinths have been found in rock art around the world. Our ancestors believed that in this way you can "confuse" evil spirits and protect your home. However, even today Feng Shui experts assure that a properly made labyrinth is able to direct energy flows and perform the function of a kind of amulet. Moreover, it does not matter at all how large and intricate the labyrinth is and what materials it is made of - the main thing is only the correctly chosen drawing.
In European landscape art of the late Middle Ages, hedge labyrinths became a traditional element of palace gardens and park complexes; walking through such labyrinths was a favorite pastime of the aristocracy.
Labyrinths are still a widely used landscape design element today. At the same time, labyrinths can be large and small, simple and complex, made of a variety of materials - flowers, stone, paths, etc. The labyrinth is a real "magnet" for children - because it is so exciting to play tag and hide in it! And adults like to walk slowly through the labyrinths, immersed in their thoughts.
As a simple temporary option, you can also form a sheared labyrinth from annual plants - for example, broom kochia (up to 1 meter high), which creates a dense green mass and lends itself perfectly to shaping and cutting.
A much simpler and less space-consuming option is a labyrinth of flowers. Flowers for the labyrinth-bed should be selected not sprawling, compact, evenly shaped - with erect stems or spherical bushes, not prone to self-sowing, so that the outlines of the labyrinth are not smeared and it does not turn into a simple blurry spot. For example, actively crossing poppies and escholcia are categorically not suitable for these purposes. But any annual or perennial border flowers are perfect - for example, dwarf snapdragon, sparkling salvia, coleus, border rose, etc.
The color scheme should be fairly uniform - otherwise the outlines will also be visually blurred. If your labyrinth consists, for example, of two interlocking spirals or several lines, you can make them contrast with each other.
The flower labyrinth can be just a flower bed (a compact version intended only for viewing) or a place for walking, where garden paths are laid between the flower ribbons - in this case, the winding paths will also repeat all the forms of the labyrinth.
An interesting variant is the "disappearing" labyrinth on the lawn, which appears only in spring and is renewed annually. Such a labyrinth is made from bulbous flowers that do not require annual digging - daffodils, botanical tulips, hazel grouses.
In order to make such a labyrinth, we need a sufficient number of flower bulbs, a long rope and, of course, several meters of lawn. The laying of the flower bed is carried out in early autumn. With the help of a rope, we lay a drawing of the future labyrinth on the lawn. We cut and remove rectangular pieces of lawn turf along the contour so that a landing area is formed about two bulbs deep. The width of the flower ribbon is about half a meter (may be less depending on the total area of the labyrinth). Then we plant the bulbs (preferably quite densely) and again cover them with the removed turf. Ready! You will see the outlines of the labyrinth in the spring, when shoots of bulbous plants appear. In the summer, the labyrinth will disappear from the lawn, but will again remind of itself next spring.
stone labyrinth
An interesting version of the landscape composition is a labyrinth made of stone. Like a flower labyrinth, it can be a small (for review) or large-scale (“walking”) composition.
It is desirable to select stones that are large enough, if possible, more or less the same size, shape and color. You can simply lay the stones in a chain along the contour in one row, or form a low masonry-side. Such a composition, by the way, will serve as a decoration for the garden not only in the spring and summer, but also in winter: the outlines of the labyrinth under the snow look extremely impressive.
And, of course, a huge advantage of a stone labyrinth over most other types - after construction, it will require practically no maintenance from you in the future.
You can revive a stone labyrinth with vegetation: place small alpine plants here and there, juveniles, etc. Stonework can even be turned into a "flowering wall" by planting plants with hanging stems between the stones.
fantasy maze
The most unpredictable of labyrinths is the fantasy labyrinth: there are no laws here, and the only limitation is the limits of your imagination! Unlike traditional labyrinths-amulets and labyrinths-symbols, such a labyrinth may not have any pre-planned pattern, clear outlines and a single goal - the center. The main thing here is the intricacy of the paths, the unexpectedness of turns and intersections, where you never know what awaits you around the corner. You can turn the whole garden into such a labyrinth along with a playground, a recreation area and approaches to the house. The idea is that the transition paths should be small, with frequent turns and even "loops" - so that in each individual section you can not see what is hiding a few meters away. This can be achieved through arches, pergolas, tall plants along the paths. The hedges here are not cut, they are allowed to grow freely and hide everything that is further than a few steps away. A small surprise can await at every turn: a bench for rest, an arbor, an elegant sculpture, an original flower bed, a new landscape composition.
A continuation of such a labyrinth can even become ... a vegetable garden. Here, along the paths, pergolas with curly beans and decorative pumpkins and cabbage borders can line up. And vegetable beds can be made in the form of twisted spirals to emphasize belonging to the labyrinth and this part of your possessions.
Whichever labyrinth you choose, you are unlikely to ever regret your decision. A labyrinth is an element of landscape design that always attracts attention, looks spectacular and can become a real pride for the site owner. And don't let the complexity of the path to your dream scare you! There is always a way out of any labyrinth...
Perhaps all the owners of summer cottages are trying to make something unusual and original in the yard, something that would make it stand out from the rest. It may be small, hidden between spreading trees, other options. These are all classics, but there are other, more mysterious garden elements - remember, for example, labyrinths during the Middle Ages, which were framed by luxurious palaces! And something similar (on a more modest scale, of course) can be done by any owner of a suburban area, if he has the opportunity and desire. And about how to make a garden maze with your own hands, we will tell in today's article.
Interesting! Did you know that there are several ways to uproot stumps? If you want to know more about this, then this is for you!
But what is good about a labyrinth in a garden? You will be surprised, but this idea has numerous advantages:
- the garden will be arranged in an unconventional, original way;
- it will be useful for kids in terms of development;
- family and guests can have a great time.
Determine what a garden maze is
Let's make a reservation right away that any labyrinth is an extremely complex system, which consists of intricate passages and paths leading to a single goal, namely to the center of the entire composition. It is not at all necessary that the labyrinth in the garden be large - there are relatively small ones among them, distinguished by their emphasized ease of execution. In addition, a variety of materials can be used to create a composition - from traditional hedges to original stone paths.
And if you have children, then remember that such a labyrinth will very quickly become their favorite place to play, because it is so interesting to play hide and seek there! For adults, this is a great opportunity to take a leisurely walk, carried away by your dreams and thoughts.
Note! If we talk about a regular garden, then almost any type of labyrinth is suitable for it, while for a landscape garden it is better to use a fantasy or stone one.
Now - directly to the process of creating a labyrinth!
Stage one. location, composition
Before you start doing something, decide where the composition will be located. It is obvious that almost all labyrinths can only be fully seen from above, for this reason it is very good if you have some kind of hill or a house with two floors on the site (from the second floor you can admire the delights of the composition). As for the placement, it is better to equip the labyrinth next to the playground or recreation area.
The most primitive version of the labyrinth is a twisted spiral, the paths of which are connected in the center. But with compositions in which there are several exits or a dead end, everything is much more complicated. And any park labyrinth in Europe can be an excellent example of this, and if you simplify it, you can get your own original scheme.
When creating a labyrinth, attention should be paid to both the interweaving of paths and the “heart” of the composition, that is, the central part. It is recommended to equip a recreation area there, for which you can, for example, put a table with chairs, build a pergola, and so on. Even a beautiful sculpture, a flower bed, a reservoir or even a sundial can become a “heart”.
Stage two. Choosing plants
If the maze is small, that is, for children, then when creating it, you can use annual plants (such as curly parsley), flower pots, small cobblestones. But if the structure is large enough, then shrubs will need to be planted for it. It is important that they are such that neither haircut nor care causes any particular difficulties (and all this is extremely necessary to give the composition the desired shape and adjust the dimensions of the walls).
When creating an average labyrinth, plants no more than 0.5 meters high are used (this can be a stunted spirea, alpine currant, boxwood). All of these crops grow in the middle lane. And if you are up to something really large-scale - a composition in which adults will fornicate for some time, then the best option would be trees up to 3 meters high. According to experienced specialists, yew, wild rose, Tatar maple, hornbeam, and others are most suitable for this.
Note! The combination of crop types should be selected so that they have different flowering periods, that is, they did not bloom at the same time. Only in this case, the garden maze will look great for most of the year!
As already noted, traditionally garden labyrinths are made in the form of a circle, although if desired, you can use any other shape - a triangle, a square, it can even be made in the form of initials. In a word, there are a lot of options, so you can safely connect children to the process - she will take part in it with great pleasure. The most primitive version of the composition consists of:
- entrance;
- several turns;
- exit.
As for the forms, the simplest of them are spiral compositions, where all the tracks are connected in the center. There is also a through scheme, in which there is no pronounced "heart". And now let's figure out what types of labyrinths are the most popular in landscape design.
Stage three. Let's get down to business - several options for action
There are four main types of composition, and your next steps will depend on which one you choose. So, let's take a look at everyone.
Option number 1. hedge composition
The most attractive, and therefore tempting option is a garden maze made of hedges. It is quite obvious that this option is also the most time-consuming and difficult to implement. Cultures (it can be both trees and bushes) that form passages in this kind of composition need constant care and frequent cutting. Moreover, the area of \u200b\u200bsuch charms will be considerable - no 6 acres in this case will be saved.
Although if the area of the site is large enough, and you yourself are filled with the desire to keep the hedge "in shape", then this design will turn into your favorite place for walking! Most likely, not only children, but also grandchildren will be able to play in intricate moves, since with proper care, the composition will still be attractive for decades.
If you plan to use a hedge as a "building material", then we advise you to resort to:
- brilliant cotoneaster;
- laurel;
- privet;
- evergreen boxwood.
And if you don’t have the desire to wait for perennial bushes to grow, you can do everything quickly using fast-growing annual crops (this can be, for example, broom kochia, which grows no higher than 1 meter). It forms a dense green mass in record time, and besides, it is quite easy to cut. Although there is a significant disadvantage - such a labyrinth of annual crops will have to be restored every year, for this reason it is rather a temporary option.
Option number 2. stone labyrinth
You can also use a stone to create a labyrinth - in this case, the finished composition will outwardly resemble the ruins of an ancient fairy-tale building. Of course, it will be intended solely for viewing and, perhaps, for walking, since it is hardly possible to use it for “wandering”. To lay out a decorative spiral, take small pebbles that have the same size, or a masonry-side. And if you use large stones, it will help to make a kind of walking version of the composition.
If you wish, or, for example, if you think that the maze of stone looks too gloomy, you can "revive" it with the help of plants planted between boulders. In this case, if small pebbles were used, then “Alpine” cultures (rejuvenated, stonecrop) are perfect. But for the transformation of a stone wall, experts advise taking ivy, kobe, honeysuckle or dichondra.
Option number 3. flower arrangement
The labyrinth in the form of spiral flower plantings is very popular. It is important that compact flowers are selected, the stems of which are erect. Cultures must clearly repeat all the outlines of a given composition, which is why sprawling flowers are unlikely to fit (they, as you know, “like” to grow). It is also undesirable to use crossed crops to create a garden maze (it can be escholcia or poppy), since, as the name implies, they are prone to self-seeding.
Note! If these self-seeding crops are still used, then the composition will lose clarity and become a blurry spot. Therefore, it is better to take compact plants for this - a curb rose, for example, or a bush petunia.
As for the color, the labyrinth in this regard should be as clear and uniform as possible, otherwise the outlines will be smeared and will not be perceived as a whole. And if the composition will consist of two spirals connected in the center, then you can use two colors that contrast with each other. By the way, a flower arrangement can only act as an ordinary flower bed, that is, it can only be viewed or used for walking. If walks were chosen, then lay gravel paths between plantings that clearly repeat all the passes.
Option number 4. fantasy composition
This option is the most unpredictable, as it is away from clear lines and geometric laws. No circuit layout is required here, as well as the presence of a "heart"; the main emphasis here is on the ultimate complexity of moves, the maximum number of turns, dead ends in unexpected places. And, walking through such a labyrinth, a person will be able to take part in an exciting journey, during which he will not know what awaits him at the next crossroads.
Fantasy-type labyrinths are interesting in that they can be not only a strictly defined area of a suburban area, like the options described above, but can be located throughout the garden, including a play area, a recreation area, and so on. It is only necessary that the transitions be insignificant and “mixed” with various intersections and turns. Only in this case, the person inside the composition will not know what awaits him just a few meters ahead. And for this, pergolas, trellises or arches decorated with climbing plants can be used.
All plant crops, including hedges, will grow freely here, grow as “you want”, in order to hide everything that is a few steps away from a person. And after each turn, the visitor will be waiting for something unusual and at the same time pleasant: a beautiful flower bed, a comfortable bench for relaxing, a plaster sculpture, etc.
Summing up
If you make a garden labyrinth with your own hands, then you will definitely not regret your idea, since this garden design element will always attract attention, and you, in turn, will be proud of your creation! And do not be afraid that the path to the dream may be too confusing. There is always a way out in labyrinths, you just need to make an effort and find it!
