A Spiraling Granite Installation at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Tucked along the Backwoods Trail at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, the Whirlwind Stone Feature is a dry-laid granite spiral built around a central boulder. The design suggests motion—wind curling through the trees, water eddying around stone—while staying rooted in place.

A Collaboration in Stone

This piece came together as part of a collaboration with Prospect Design, an idea that evolved into something simple, striking, and deeply connected to the landscape. The spiral form feels natural here, as if it’s always been part of the woods.

Reclaimed Granite, Old Stories

Built entirely from reclaimed granite, the feature carries its own quiet history. Every stone has been used before—once part of something else, now given new purpose. The dry-laid technique allows it to settle in over time, shifting slightly with the seasons, yet holding firm.

A Place to Pause

Set back in the woods, the Whirlwind Stone Feature invites a moment of stillness. Hikers and visitors tend to linger here, tracing the curve of the spiral, noticing how light and shadow move across the stone. It’s a small landmark, meant to be discovered.

More Stonework in Public Spaces

• Rock Rest – a stone seating installation, made for pausing.

• Thea’s Labyrinth – a dry-laid labyrinth for slow wandering.