I used to do the trench edging but it became too much work. In the front garden I replaced the trench with paver brick edging - with an all-important aluminium barrier between the bricks and the grass. Where two beds were separated by a grass path I sometimes replaced the grass with a pinebarK path, which eliminates the edging issue altogether! (patreesh - I agree with the comments above that it would make a lot of sense from both maintenance and visual appeal points of view to combine some of your separate beds into fewer, larger ones. If you do that, some of the grass paths can be replaced with mulch paths that are within the bed, eliminating both the need to mow them and to edge them...) In the backyard woodland garden I put pinebark paths between the lawn and the garden under the trees. The grass (which is weaker because it is in shade...) is not inclined to cross the paths. It is easy to mow and the only maintenance required on the edge is in spring to use an edging spade to cut straight down along the intersection of grass and path, followed by a raking of the path, which loosens and lifts to the surface any encroaching roots. Then you just pick the roots up and discard to the compost heap. My backyard lawn is too 'formal' for many people's tastes but you could use the same approach with a more informal shaped space. Some pictures... This is from last year in May in the front. The narrow outer bed was new and just planted - it's filled in a lot since then. The brick edging nicely defines both the beds and the grass path between them. On the left you can see the ends of the bark path that runs behind a small bed between the main front bed and the driveway border which connects to the narrow front bed in an extended loose/open C shape: A view down the path from the north end in May this year: From the backyard, showing the paths on the outside of the garden areas so they form a barrier between the grass and the garden. There is a network of paths through the garden areas under the trees. Those paths are bark, so the entire area is one continuous garden with a path network running through it.

botann: I don't think anyone could disagree with your statement about cottage gardens after viewing the gardens Jan created. I discovered photo albums on his website - I think they will be interesting to those of us who want to learn more about design issues. If you go to Jan's website at http://wbgarden.com/ then click the American flag, you will be directed to the English language version of the site where you will find several slideshows. http://wbgarden.com/nove/wb/wbe/indexe/indexe.htm I found many more images on this page (link at end). Scroll down until you see many small images, click one, a large one will appear. Pam Here is a link that might be useful: Photos from Jan's Gardens

Hi Lorna, I have creeping thyme and wooly thyme. The regular creeping time does much better for me and spreads really fast. I started with one 4 inch pot years ago and have given tons away and have had to chop back lots over the years. The wooly thyme spreads much slower and I don't find it as pretty when it flowers. I have it planted around the edge of my side perennial bed. And yes there is lavender munstead planted with it. This is a very pretty combination....but both don't bloom at the same time. I started lavender munstead from seed years ago. It has a speratic germination. Some pop up a lot faster than others....you just have to wait it out. This particular lavender, does not survive moving.....so if you are sprinkling seed right in the garden make sure that is where you want it. Also I found that this lavender dies out after several years and will need to be replaced. I don't know if it is the same with other lavenders or not. Sierra

OK, looks like everyone is as busy as I am. Hate to let my sister down, as I said I would check this board every day, but alas, Tomorrow starts two (2) weeks of the state high stakes testing. The pressure and stress is sooooo heartbreaking. I teach 5th grade, I had 2 boys crying on Friday over something really insignificant, but you know it's the pressure of these D**** tests. They are so worried they wont be able to go to middle school with their friends. I've been in meetings all week signing my life away that I wont look at the test, etc. Now I have to turn in a seating chart of my testing environment, signing that they were 3 feet apart and not able to cheat. Sorry for rambling, but I really get angry, our politicians have forgotten these are children and not all children are college material. I'm going to give the next two (2) names, because this will really be a busy week.... first....triciae then... hostabuff thanks for letting me vent, hope everyone has a great week. It is starting to look like spring here, so the next couple of weeks should be great. Patty