Good gardens are full of interesting destinations, and making your way from one to another is always pleasant when you're walking on well-placed steppingstones.

A handsome line of hefty steppingstones irresistibly directs your feet from a patio out to an exuberant flower bed or politely suggests a stroll through a woodsy side yard. It will lead your eyes and your feet to a garden gate or a secluded bench. Steppingstones are good-looking problem solvers, too, tidying up well-worn shortcuts and keeping your feet dry in soggy spots.

Steppingstones have a way of taking quiet charge of the tempo of the experience of a garden. Paved paths hurry you along, but steppingstones have a pace all their own -- they can be used to deliberately slow down the experience of a garden, says Joann Schwarberg, a landscape architect in the Kansas City area. Increasing the spacing between them -- or introducing a new paving material -- can change the mood dramatically. These are good ways to mark transitions within a garden.

Garden designers place great emphasis on the fine art of choosing and placing steppingstones. "Generally, they start at a more architectural environment and lead to something less formal," says Schwarberg. Visitors don't always know quite what to make of a garden, and steppingstones reassuringly mark the way.

Just by their nature, steppingstones are rarely set in a straight line. In one client's garden, Schwarberg designed a path of fieldstone steppingstones curving off a patio and around behind a screened porch to a private side yard. In another garden, she used a sweep of large, rugged steppingstones as solid steps up a slope. The stepping-stone staircase is an unusual treatment, she says, but "it's a lovely way to make a staircase more natural."

Vanessa Gardner Nagel, a landscape designer and the owner of Seasons Garden Design in Vancouver, Washington, calls steppingstones in gardens a "subtle way-finding technique," and recommends them as a way to save a little money, too. They are generally not as expensive as a path made with bricks, cut stone, or other materials, she says. They're also a good environmental choice. "Solid pavement doesn't allow much drainage," Nagel says. "Steppingstones allow water to stay on-site."

Every designer has rules of thumb about choosing stones that are the right size and weight and about how to place them so they are naturally comfortable to walk on. The size, shape and color of steppingstones should complement the setting, the architecture of the house and the colors and textures of existing garden structures, walls and walks.

Thick steppingstones are best, designers say: Nagel uses stones up to 3 inches thick. Pavers only 1 1/2 inches thick will look good when you lay them down, but they are brittle and will not hold up to either weather or regular use.

Big stones also "have more presence," Nagel says, "and they don't look like you are inviting Minnie Mouse into your garden. You are not mincing as you make your way along the path."

Setting the stones is a bit of an art. Measure your own pace as you stroll along where you're thinking of using steppingstones, and test the pattern with your own feet before you set the stones permanently in place. Resist the temptation to make the path razor-straight: A natural curve is more comfortable and relaxing.

Steppingstones are meant to be "a step apart," Schwarberg says, but everyone's stride is different. Large stones solve most spacing problems because they are comfortable for both short and tall people. Schwarberg likes stones that are about 18 inches in diameter; she leaves a space of 3 to 6 inches between each step.

Wherever you use them, steppingstones must be placed solidly. Nagel always sets stones on a base of sand and packed gravel. Digging out a little soil and wedging a steppingstone into place only works for a while, she says.

Well-chosen and carefully placed steppingstones shouldn't be an afterthought. They are a fundamental element of style in a garden, Nagel says. And remember, they create planting opportunities, too. The stones may be set in mulch, gravel or sand, but creeping thyme, ajuga, sedum and dozens of other low-growing plants, as well as grass, will spread naturally between steppingstones. Flowers may pop up in the spaces, too. Your first instinct may be to remove them, but step back before you pull them out. You may decide to let nature make her own way along your path of steppingstones.

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In a well-designed garden, you can feel the music.

"It's like a waltz," says Ted Cleary, a landscape architect in Charlotte, North Carolina, who has been designing gardens for almost 20 years. Gardens, like music, are about movement and rest, he says. You should glide through a good garden as gracefully as a couple moves across a dance floor.

A new survey from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) reveals that this outdoor dance fits into a pattern. Homeowners want pretty gardens with places to entertain, grill, and relax. They're interested in sensitive garden lighting and comfortable places to sit. They want "livable, open spaces that are both stylish and earth-friendly," says Nancy Somerville of the ASLA.

The 2014 ASLA trend survey reflects the observations of landscape architects across the country who specialize in residential design. Landscape architects are trained to see the big picture, Cleary says, but the survey shows that garden designs are made up of separate parts, from the front walk to the back patio. In a successful garden plan, courtyards, flower gardens, pools, seating areas, grilling spots and storage buildings all fit neatly together.

"Your house is just a microcosm of a small town square, and our job is to figure out how it all relates," Cleary says. Garden design projects also help you develop your aesthetic sense and reveal the potential of your property, says Mary Palmer Dargan, a landscape architect who lives and works in Atlanta, and in Cashiers, North Carolina.

One of the biggest trends this year is demand for first-rate outdoor lighting: 98 percent of landscape architects surveyed said lighting is a high priority among their clients. Good lighting makes any garden more attractive, Cleary says. "You would be amazed at how it will transform your landscape."

Outdoor lighting should highlight important features and direct you and your guests through the evening landscape safely, but it should also be subdued and a little mysterious. A runway of fixtures set too close together spoils the mood. Smaller pools of light that slightly overlap are visually graceful and still make a garden easy to navigate, Cleary says. "You should very seldom see the source, but you should see the effect," he says.

John Pletcher, owner of Natural Accents lighting design company in Liberty, Missouri, calls bright lights "glare bombs."

"People are really starting to see that you don't need a lot of light," he says. "You can keep it very low, and it can still be gorgeous."

The survey of trends also found that outdoor dining areas are high on the list of priorities for homeowners, with fire pits, fireplaces, grills and built-in seating close behind. In fact, they all go together, Cleary says.

A garden with great places to sit looks inviting even if you don't always have time to linger, Cleary says. He prefers gardens with several seating areas -- perhaps a few chairs just outside the back door, for example, and a bench deeper in the garden. Lightweight furniture that can be moved around easily lets you experiment with different views and perspectives in your own garden. The wire mesh chairs in Paley Park in midtown Manhattan are a good example of how light furniture works well in any garden, Cleary says: The configuration of chairs and tables can change throughout the day and through the seasons.

Built-in seating serves other purposes as well, and it has become justly popular, Cleary says. Seating walls help define the spaces in a garden, reduce clutter and introduce strong horizontal lines in a design. The built-in bench in a stone wall designed by landscape architect Meg Turner for clients in Richmond, Virginia, follows a graceful curve in a corner, and the view from there seems to embrace the garden. The bench faces back across to the house, which is made of the same handsome stone. In another garden, Turner designed a seating wall that frames an outdoor fireplace. On cool evenings, the wall accommodates a cozy crowd.

"It's almost a missed opportunity if you have a terrace with a wall and don't have built-in seating," Cleary says. People naturally gravitate to these spaces, he says, because they "want to be a part of things, to see what's going on, but you want to feel protected." Seating built against a wall fills that need.

Garden trends really don't change all that dramatically over the years, Cleary says. Your investment is safe; this year's garden design will still look great in years to come. As plants mature, well-cared-for landscaping can even increase in value: ASLA research shows that a professional landscape design can add up to 15 percent to the value of your home. A well-designed garden is a comfortable and inviting space you will enjoy every day you live in your house. That's a trend anyone can appreciate.

SOURCES

The website of the American Society of Landscape Architects (asla.org) is a great resource for homeowners looking for more information about landscape architects and their work, and for anyone interested in the business of landscape architecture. Search for "residential design" to find tips on hiring and working with a landscape architect, and links to award-winning residential design.

Ted Cleary's design work can be seen on Houzz (houzz.com/pro/tedcl/studio-cleary-landscape-architecture) and on the website of Studio Cleary Landscape Architecture (scla.carbonmade.com).

Mary Palmer Dargan, of Dargan Landscape Architects (dargan.com), is the author of several books on landscape design.

Landscape architect Meg Turner (mturnerlandscapes.com) is the owner of M. Turner Landscapes in Richmond, Virginia.

John Pletcher, owner of Natural Accents (www.naturalaccentsllc.com), is an award-winning landscape lighting designer.

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Making a habit of photographing your own garden -- or gardens you visit -- helps you seize beautiful moments, tell stories and bring your ideas into focus.

Taking pictures sharpens your eye for details: for the deeply quilted texture of a hosta leaf, the bubbling exuberance of a cluster of cherry tomatoes or the playful face of a pansy. It helps you to be more aware of the changing patterns of sun and shadow across your garden. Garden photography also helps you appreciate views and perspectives, and exercises your design sense.

Professional photographers with expensive cameras and bags full of fancy lenses have an edge over enthusiastic amateurs, but great garden photography really starts with your own eye. You don't need a high-priced camera to capture a great image -- even the pros often shoot pictures with their phones, with beautiful results.

A picture-perfect day begins at sunrise, when the light is soft. The right light is crucial. Rob Cardillo, a professional photographer in Ambler, Pennsylvania, who has been photographing gardens and gardeners for more than 20 years for magazines, books and newspapers, calls light "the magical seasoning" in garden photography. "You can make something out of nothing in great light," Cardillo says. "You can make an average garden look stupendous."

In early morning light, colorful gardens are at their best. Your eye can appreciate a garden in the bright light of the midday sun, but a camera sees things differently; that brilliant light looks harsh through a camera lens, and it washes out the colors. Get up with the sun, Cardillo suggests, and "exploit great light."

Gardens also glow in the golden hour before sunset. Cardillo's rule of thumb for afternoon photography is, "I don't shoot until my shadow is longer than I am."

Taking pictures in your own garden is a great way to think about its design and document its development. Walking around with a camera in your hand allows you to take visual notes rapidly and easily. What better way to catalog your collection of irises, asters or garden art? Use a camera to capture the colors and character of seasonal combinations of plants in flower beds or in pots, or to record the story of your vegetable garden through the summer.

Before-and-after pictures of garden projects are also useful. When you're using your camera to document the construction of a pergola or the process of laying stepping stones, it helps to write down the important steps along the way and to shoot each one from several angles. The presence of people adds scale to these shots and brings the projects to life. Remember, you'll have many opportunities to show how your new garden feature looks once it is finished, but you have only one chance to capture the excitement it as it is being built.

When you visit a botanical garden or go on a garden tour, a camera will help you think about what you see and what you like. Pathways naturally guide your feet, but let your eye and your lens wander away from the path to catch great views and shoot the details as you walk through a garden.

Keep the camera in your hands. Frame your shots carefully, defining your subject and blocking out distractions. Don't just shoot randomly: If you spend a minute thinking about the best angle for a shot and then composing it through the lens, the results will be much more satisfying. Take your time. Wait for people to move out of the way.

On a garden tour, you might try to develop a running photographic theme, shooting different kinds of water features, for example, or designs for patios, or plant combinations in flowerpots. Of course, with a digital camera, you can keep several themes going at once and sort the pictures out later.

Cardillo likes to shoot from above, looking down on a scene, and from the low angles, through the greenery -- these are "bird's-eye" and "worm's-eye" views. From above, you eliminate problems like electrical lines. A worm's-eye view focuses on the foreground and makes even small plants look "grand and heroic," he says.

Practice makes perfect, Cardillo says. "Get one camera and use it. Make it second nature." Use the automatic settings while you get to know your camera, and "then learn how to tweak that," he says. "Figure out how to take everything off automatic, and try manual focus and exposure." His images in "The Layered Garden," by David Culp, with Adam Levine, unfold the beauty of Culp's own garden, seen through many seasons and from many angles.

Using a point-and-shoot camera or a phone to take pictures is great practice, too. Shooting with a phone "keeps me on my toes," Cardillo says. "It's like I'm doing visual push-ups, keeping my eye active and strengthened by looking for photos everywhere."

Cardillo's favorite garden photography "captures a garden moment," he says. These moments are more than a simple photographic record of the plants and lines of a garden's design. A great series of pictures is a distillation of your passing experience of the color, texture and light in a garden: the photographs capture the mood and the magic. It won't always be easy: You may have to get up on a ladder, lie down in the grass or wander off the beaten path. When the moment comes, grab it: Put down your trowel and pick up your camera.

SIDEBAR

PICTURE PERFECT

When you photograph your garden regularly, you're documenting its development and your own changing relationships with plants and design. Pictures don't just freeze an image; they capture the passage of time. Here are some tips and ideas from Rob Cardillo to help you get the most out of your garden photographs:

-- Take a walk around a garden before you start shooting. Look at it from different angles. Find the obvious, designed views but also the unexpected angles.

-- Get an early start. "If you show up at dawn, you just get a magical look," Cardillo says.

-- Practice "the one-eyed squint," Cardillo suggests. Close one eye, and imagine what you're looking at is two dimensional, instead of three-dimensional. "It helps me put things together in a graphic way, with splashes of color and lines and forms," he says.

-- Get to know your camera. "Cameras today are sophisticated, small and menu-driven, and they have too many little buttons," Cardillo says. "You really have to read the owner's manual."

-- It's natural to be drawn to close-ups of flowers, but you need overall shots and medium-range vignettes to tell the story of a garden. Taking overall shots provides the necessary setting for the fine details.

-- Let your view-finder help you garden. If you are constantly working to block a view of the neighbor's rickety fence or a power pole, it's time to think about how you can use plants or design features to make the scene more beautiful.

-- Include people in your garden photos. People add scale and interest, Cardillo says. You may be more successful with a phone than with a fancy camera. "There's less technology and equipment between you and your subject," Cardillo says. "You can get a more genuine expression."

-- Whatever angle you choose, "fill your frame with beautiful things," Cardillo says.

SOURCES

To learn more about garden photography and get some practice, along with professional advice, take a class. Public gardens and botanic gardens often offer classes for photographers at every level of ability. Some even offer classes just for photography using cellphones.

Rob Cardillo and other photographers teach photography workshops at Chanticleer Gardens (chanticleergarden.org), outside Philadelphia in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Longwood Gardens (longwoodgardens.org), in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, also offers garden photography classes through the seasons. An Internet search on "garden photography classes" will lead you to many possibilities.

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