Hi had a similar problem with mine i live in Palm Beach county I removed the grass from the backyard creating shrub palm islands Using gravel in the paths . Don't know about your soil but mine is mostly beach sand so drains easily if you don't block it I put gutters on the roof and direct it to the water gardens from there to marsh gardens then to the neighbors.lol It has worked well except when there was a 31 inch rain.!! Was collecting fish from the neighbors for weeks lol Summer is the rainy season so expect heavy rains !!! I'm almost 14 inches below normal this year so depending on the hose for my floods lol Good luck gary

Thanks Yardvaark... The walk will end where my superimposed line ends, and the door is right behind where I am standing in that picture. There will be a wood porch reaching out to just over the pavers. The planned elevation change from the driveway level to the top of the walk is 6" (at 2%.) In the first picture, the driveway is just off-picture on the right (the walkway takes a 90 turn to the right, but the low/driveway elevation is the same across that far end you can see in the picture.) One approach being considered is having the low spot at that "shoulder" you see on Pic 1 on the left where the walk narrows from ~10' wide to ~5'. I can dispose of the water there as it will drop right into the new drainage trench. The challenge is still that I'd be starting at the lowest spot (driveway level, and working down to that corner. I'd be below normal yard grade at that point, but it may be doable? Thanks again to both of you for your thoughts.

You only step up where you need to provide the the appropriate coverage. And yes it's easiest to step up one block at a time, as the concrete is easier to place like that. If you can raise your soil level quickly from the door end, you can put most of the steps on that end and save excavation and a few CMUs. Is this a heated garage? Keep in mind that if it can get to zero degrees for a long time in the garage you could have some frost heave at the footings even at the rear of the garage if the footings are only 12" below concrete. Depends on your climate and what has worked in your area. Do you have a codes officer to bounce this off?

All you need to do it make sure that there is decent topsoil in the planting space. The stone and sand will be unnecessary, since where would the water go after the air spaces between stone and sand is filled up? Don't create those air spaces to begin with. When you bring the level up to the concrete slab and plant it, drainage will not be a problem.