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Stone in the Garden

Last spring I cleared out some weedy alders that were growing around our stream, and created a small round grassy area with the idea of creating a quiet garden room for rest and reflection. I planted a small river birch at one side of the clearing, and cleared out the brush and weeds from the edge of stream.

Elsewhere on the property I had a stone bench, but I rarely used it. I decided to move the bench closer to the stream, and to add a standing stone at the edge of this garden space to draw people to the stream and the bench.

Before I began work I pulled out my copy of Gordon Hayward's wonderful book entitled "Stone in the Garden: Inspiring Designs and Practical Projects." Hayward is a highly regarded garden designer who lives in Putney, Vermont. I have seen his use of stone in the garden, and thought I should read his chapters on benches and standing stones before I got started.

Hayward explains that stone benches are not comfortable to sit on for very long, but are great for imparting a sense of permanence to a garden, for providing a sense of scale from a distance, or for drawing people into a garden room. He explained that it is human nature to want to sit with our backs protected - by a wall, or by a substantial planting. Perhaps that harkens back to the time when we were prey for big game. I snuggled my bench up to a green wall of leaves near the stream.

I found a nice stone in my woods, about four feet long and a foot wide. Despite its weight -stone ways about 180 pounds per cubic foot - I was able to roll it onto a plastic sled and drag it downhill out of the woods. Once on the lawn, I pulled the sled with my riding lawnmower to its destination.

It's important that a standing stone be set firmly in place. Hayward's book recommends burying one third of a stone, but David Brandau, co-owner of Standing Stone Perennial Farm in So. Royalton, Vermont told me that burying just one quarter is adequate- particularly if concrete is added in the hole. Brandau has set dozens of standing stones, including some 8-12 feet tall. Their display gardens feature a variety of standing stones. They sell long stones as well as unusual, organically grown perennials. They can be reached at 802-763-8243, or by e-mail at sspf@together.net.

I dug a hole 12 inches deep and 24 inches around with vertical sides. I undercut the sides with a hand tool so that the concrete I planned to use could enter - forming a wide, stable base like a mushroom anchor.

By sliding the butt of the stone over the hole I was able to tip it in, and stand it up straight. I rotated it to find its best face, stopping to look at it and to discuss the placement with Karen. Once in place, I knew that this stone was not going anyplace.

I removed the stone and put two inches of dry concrete mix in the bottom of the hole. Then I rolled the stone back over the hole, righted it, and rotated it a little until it was "just so". Then I shoveled in the rest of the 80 pound bag of Sakrete. I packed down the dry mix around the stone and into the undercut area I'd created. I added a little water, but did not bother mixing it in. I filled up the rest of the hole with soil, and packed it down.

I finished the project by planting grass seed around the stone and, off to one side, a royal fern (Osmunda regalis) that I'd bought at Standing Stone Perennial Farm. It likes moist soil, and can grow to be the biggest of all ferns in New England - up to 6 feet tall or more.

I'm not sure what it is about my standing stone that pleases me so much. The shape, color and texture are nice. But it might also be that I see it and remember what a challenge it was getting it there, and standing it in place. I doubt it, but maybe that's what the builders of Stonehenge wanted to do - give guys something to be proud of, and something to do on their days off.

Henry Homeyer is the VT/NH associate editor of "People, Places and Plants" magazine. Write him at gardening.guy@valley.net or P.O. Box 364, Cornish Flat, N.H. 03746.