Need images of stepping stone plantings

17 years ago

Hi, everyone,

I'm not sure I'm posting this in the right forum--is planting between stepping stones a cottage garden thing?--but I thought I'd give it a shot.

I want to make some stepping stone paths, and fill in all around them with low growing plants. My plan is to use lots of different types of plants--mostly low growing perennials--but plant them in masses, and use all round stepping stones, to give it some unity.

But I'm having a hard time visualizing. I've searched the net, and also a number of books and magazines in the library, but I haven't found many photographs so far of this type of path.

Are any of you doing anything similar to this? Could you post photos? Or could you recommend books or magazines or websites with photos of this kind of path?

I'm not particular about what type of plants are used in the photo. They most likely will be different than what will grow down here in Central Florida, where creeping thyme tends to burn up in the summer. I'd just like to see some images to get a better idea of what sort of look this type of path generally has.

Thank you.

Bill

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Comments (10)

lynnencfan
17 years ago
This site will give you a ton of ideas and you can even put in your zone and get ideas for plants that will work just for you - hope it helps.....

Lynne

Here is a link that might be useful: Stepables
ninjabut
17 years ago
Not the OP, but thanks for that site! I had lost it when I changed computers.
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todancewithwolves
17 years ago
I say do it! Here's mine :-)
{{gwi:680083}}
Edna
castorp
Original Author
17 years ago
Edna, that's beautiful! Thanks for the picture. Now I'm really inspired. Is that thyme you have growing between the stones? I wish thyme grew better here. . .

Lynne, thanks for the link. The site has lots of plants that I've never heard of. The "before and after" page and several others are coming up empty for me though. Am I doing something wrong?

Bill
lynnencfan
17 years ago
Bill - No I don't think you are doing anything wrong - I just think some of the pages are not developed yet. I like browsing through the 'Stepscapes' and the 'Combination Sensations' to get ideas. I do alot with creeping jenny and mazus reptens around our pond area because they both can take some walking on.....

Lynne
girlgroupgirl
17 years ago
I can manage to grow thyme here between my stepping stones, but I'm at a lower limit for many of them.
I also grow the dwarf ruellias along the sides and between the stones (they have begun seeding themselves along the sides...), some little sedums which Iike to mix with hardy iceplant. Then again, these are off to the side a bit as they aren't stepable. Also along the edges are small bulbs: grape hyacinths, all sorts of zephyranthes and their relatives, purple knockout sage is now seeding itself and is stepable and lovely mixed in with greens...
I didn't give you a picture since mine is similar to Edna's but hers is much prettier!!

GGG
castorp
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, Lynne, I'll go back and check out "steps" and "combinations"--and research more of those plants. My garden book says creeping Jenny will grow down here too.

GGG, I hadn't thought of dwarf ruellia's. Those would do really well down here. Do you have pictures of your path on your website? Even if you don't I think I'm going to go look. I haven't looked at your website in a while.

Part of the problem is that creeping thyme won't make it through the summers here, so I have to find subsitutes, and the substitues are either higher growing, or so aggressive that they will cover the stone if it's sunk even with the ground. So I'm experimenting with some really thick--3-4"-- stepping stones, not set too deeply. I'm hoping this bit of extra height will give more freedom with plant material. I've seen only a few pictures of anything like this, and even those focused more on the whole view of the garden than the particulars of the path. But it's the only way I can see this sort of path working in Central Florida. I am a bit worried that this sort of path is going to make routine watering and maintenance more difficult though(Will I be able to drag a hose over it? Push a wheelbarrow?)

Thanks again to you all for your help. I'm still looking for more pictures, so any of you can think of where I can find some, please let me know.

Bill
lynnencfan
17 years ago
being in Florida would that creeping fig work for you or is it too agressive??? I love the tiny little leaves and want to do a topiary sometime using it. How about baby tears??? I wish that was hardy up for us....

Lynne
girlgroupgirl
17 years ago
I can take more photos of the path tomorrow Bill. I have some phototaking to do tomorrow anyway. Now, this is after a horrible summer of drought, so please do not expect anything as lush and beautiful as Edna's walkway masterpiece.
I'm sure there are other great plants you could also try.

GGG
castorp
Original Author
17 years ago
Lynne, I haven't tried creeping fig but I've heard it will cover the walls of multi-story buildings here. But now that you mention it I remember my neighbor was experimenting with a variegated type that's supposed to be less agressive. I will check out baby's tears. I'm in a difficult zone--we get too much heat or not enough cold for most temperate plants, but we have freezes now and then which makes growing tropicals more difficult.

GGG, look forward to seeing those pictures. I don't find your website anymore--but I remember really enjoying it a year or two ago.

Bill

Need images of stepping stone plantings

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lynnencfan

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Need images of stepping stone plantings

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