As mentioned I’ve embarked on my new [revisted] gardening business, Bunch Garden Design.  I’ll be posting more of my inspiration photos along the way, I hope you’ll find some inspiration for your garden as well.  My interior design friends should know I will still be doing posts on wonderful rooms that make me happy, and will hopefully make you happy too.

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Today I’m researching options for garden paths created with various materials.  I have a client who is requesting some ideas for enhancing her stepping stone path to her backyard.  Currently the path is made with irregular blue stone on dirt.  Ugh, we both know it can be more.  In California, smaller lot size means every inch has possibilities.

We have a path in our small cottage garden in the rental we’re living in…we didn’t install the Mexican pavers, but they work just fine with this small garden space. [Madison, my constant furry companion]

In our former home of 35 years, we developed this pea gravel space in our backyard.  The trees served as air conditioning in the summer…not a path but it shows the versatility of gravel.

Ground cover is an option for my client, but I seldom find it covers 100% around every stone.  So many paths with ground cover have dead patches of plant growth. If any of you have had great success with ground cover around stepping stones, I’d love to know of the plant name.

The more permanent path [below] is certainly an option.  I especially like this one that includes a border of different stones as an edge to the planting area.

Decomposed granite is a surface I particularly love because it reminds me of this exact kind of formal/historic garden.  One thing the client needs to know is that decomposed granite will need to be reapplied every few years.  I sure love the way it looks in the setting below.

Flagstone gravel [below] is a color option for the right yard or garden.

Brick is always welcome in the garden, this pathway stands the test of time and is classic.

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If you decide to add a garden path to your yard, here are some steps recommended to prevent weeds from trying to take over your path.

1. Step 1: Mark out the design. …
2. Step 2: Level the ground. …
3. Step 3: Cover the area with weed blocking fabric. …
4. Step 4: Add a layer of aggregate and compress. …
5. Step 5: Add a layer of sand and level. …
6. Step 6: Lay pavers. …
7. Step 7: Add your gravel or plants

I hope you’re having a pleasant spring.  We’re experiencing one of the coolest springs I remember. I don’t mind, summer will be here before we know it and it may be blazing hot!

xo