Both the cedar-chip path leading from the stone patio to the tent area and the shade path and garden flanking the end of the Garden House made a virtue of necessity: The stone patio was completed in the week before the first wedding. Thank to frequent rains in early summer, the skid steer made a muddy mess of the area between the Altar Bed and the first row of chairs, and back toward the Garden House. It being too late to grow grass in front of the Altar Bed, we covered the area with cedar chips, creating a curving path leading from cocktail hour on the stone patio to the reception in the tent.

We rehabilitated the mud patch on the other side of the cedar chip path by spreading pine straw and mulch and planting shade-tolerant plants.