Garden Flooring Made of Earth
A garden is where humans make art of nature. Leaves, branches, light and shadow become mediums as we define our own paradise.
If the garden is a composition, the ground is its canvas. It's where life begins, its solidity a perfect counterpoint to the open sky above.
For this reason, when we make our mark upon a garden's natural ground, we choose surfaces that reflect the earth they occupy. These materials — clay, wood and stone — feel familiar to both us and to the environment. For millions of years the earth has formed them, and we've long welcomed them into our daily rhythms.
Walking outside barefoot, these surfaces feel soothing to the touch, their inherent textures and finishes at one with the leaves, bark, and soil that surround us. They are that which nature offers, and which we, in turn, make our own. Below we share our favorite permeable surfaces for the outdoors.
Clay Pavers
Clay is worked into pavers that offer a smooth surface for pathways and patios while treading lightly on the ground beneath them. Formed in rivers, lakes and seas, when sand set this material is permeable, allowing rainfall to pass through it to replenish the land's natural aquifers.
ORCA Clay Pavers are formed from local clay sourced from deposits surrounding former lake beds throughout California. Each color is naturally derived, honoring the distinctive blend of organic materials present in the region from which it originated.
Wood Pavers
Wood Pavers are crafted from Black Locust, a deciduous hardwood tree native to North America. Fast-growing and extremely durable, the end grain of these pavers are stronger than concrete. Black Locust is also resistant to rot, resulting in its use in the building of traditional ships.
Wood Pavers expose the striations of end grain wood, forming a natural complement to gardens and driveways, patios and paths. They possess a smoothened finish with the warmth and tooth inherent to unfinished wood for a subtly tactile underfoot experience.
Pebble
Pebble or stone used in walkways, driveways, and landscapes mimic the variegated textures and colors of nature. When using this material, we opt for pea gravel — small stones naturally weathered by climactic conditions for a smooth, rounded edge. The stones are found in their natural state, typically near lakes and rivers where the flow of water has shaped the material over time.
The palette of pebble — from deep burgundy and slate gray to faded blue and dark green — forms a natural mosaic in the garden. Rainwater flows in the spaces between the stones, permeating to the soil beneath. Underfoot, the material makes a sound that feels nostalgic — the familiar "crunch" of movement that signals coming and going.