We’ve been seeing so many creative ideas for garden and landscape design lately, and we’re particularly interested in one element of backyard design that doesn’t get as much attention: garden paths and stepping stones. After all, it’s hard to truly appreciate your garden without a good path to help you navigate through it! 

On top of giving you a better view of all the hard work you’ve put into your garden, you can also use pathway design as a tool for separating your yard into different areas, creating the illusion of more space and providing a framework for your design layout. A simple, straight path isn’t all that exciting, but a winding path that curves around trees and surrounding terrain adds a bit of whimsy, inviting you to explore the space. 

We always love getting creative and thinking outside the box when it comes to landscaping projects. These stone pathway ideas are a perfect first step to transforming your space. 

Recycled Mosaic Flower Stepping Stone 

Lots of folks have been interested in recycled garden path ideas, because fancy stones aren’t always the most budget-friendly material. Plus, reusing our available resources and reducing landfill waste is always a big win! One of our favourite walkway ideas on a budget is the classic mosaic stepping stone, but with a fun twist that us garden geeks can really get behind: floral motifs! 

Instead of placing your mosaic materials into a random pattern, arrange them in a swirling, geometric pattern that resembles a blooming flower! Use one round piece in the very centre, and then place the “petals” all around it. Suitable recyclable materials for your mosaic stones include:

• Broken china  
• Bottles and glassware
• Crystals
• Colourful rocks
• Shells

A general-purpose sand-mix concrete will be the best material for walking path stones full of mosaic pieces, because it’s nice and smooth and won’t take away from the colorful accents, whereas a gravel mix would be too pebbly and uneven. Remember to use a generous layer of grout on top of your stones to fill in all the cracks and cover up any sharp edges. 

Stone Pathways With Phlox And Other Groundcovers

Instead of plopping some paver stones on the lawn and calling it a day, why not jazz things up a bit with some colourful flowering groundcover plants? There are many low-growing plants that form dense mats of foliage and can handle a little bit of trampling without sustaining any damage, so they make lovely alternatives to grass, and they really make your pathway pop! 

Creeping phlox is one of our favourite flowering groundcovers, because its candy-coloured shades of purple, pink and blue look like something out of a fantasy novel. Imagine, instead of the same old green lawn grass, your garden path was surrounded by a cotton candy meadow! Here are a few other eye-catching groundcovers we highly recommend:

• Creeping thyme
• Deadnettle
• Sedum
• Candytuft
• Bugleweed 
• Clover

To see more flowering plants and groundcovers for the yard, check out our brand new webstore that’s loaded with images of our available plants! 

Container Garden Pathway Design

A clever way to add a border along your pathway without digging anything up is by lining the walkway with container gardens! This is an opportunity to really get creative, as you’ve got limitless options for your layout. You can go streamlined and buy a bunch of terracotta pots all in the same size, or you can mix and match different sizes and colours with a few funky accent containers thrown in for extra impact. 

You can also play around with the different heights of the plants you put in your containers. Taller flowering plants like salvia and cardinal flowers, potted conifers, or even creeping plants on small trellises can act as a great divider between the yard and the walkway. Smaller flowering plants have more of an understated look, but are great if you don’t want to block the view of your surrounding garden plants. 

Got any wild landscaping ideas of your own that you’d like to try to take on? We’d love to help! Our team of expert landscape consultants are happy to answer any questions you may have about DIY backyard makeovers. Visit us in-store or shop online to see our selection of plants and patio decor that are ready to make a new home in your backyard.

When you design your home’s exterior with winter curb appeal in mind, it's amazing how welcoming and warm it can look with just a few simple touches. When the neighbourhood is blanketed with snow and the sky is grey, having an eye-catching, beautiful home can really lift your spirits! There are many fun and low-effort ways to transform your home's aesthetic for the winter. Take a look at some of these curb appeal landscaping and decorating ideas to spruce things up this winter season!

8 Inspiring Ideas For Winter Curb Appeal Design 

For some serious Simcoe curb appeal, try adding in some of these stylistic touches to keep things merry and bright:

First, Pick A Theme. Are you into the rustic vintage look, or are you more of a glitter-and-glam type? Having a consistent theme throughout your home's outdoor aesthetic will make everything look streamlined and beautiful. Browse through social media hashtags and Pinterest to get some inspiration for themes and colour schemes, or create a mood board to get those creative juices flowing.

Light Things Up. Twinkle lights are a quintessential holiday decoration, but you can do so much more than just hanging them around your roof. Jazz up the bare trees in your yard by wrapping lights around the trunk and branches, add some into your container arrangements, and grab some solar-powered lanterns to decorate your garden and porch.

Get Creative With Holiday Urns. Fresh evergreen boughs, pinecones, ribbons, and natural wood elements or glitzy picks look so fabulous all arranged together in an ornamental urn. Start by picking out an urn that matches your chosen theme—a birchbark motif would look amazing if you're going for the rustic look. Next, gather all the accoutrements for filling your urn, and arrange them with the tallest pieces in the middle, and shorter pieces all around the border.

Adding in some pieces that trail down the side can also have a great impact on the composition of your arrangement. You could even try wrapping some twinkle lights around the base of your urn for some extra sparkle. If you're less-than-confident in your design skills, join us at one of our holiday urn workshops on November 21st at 6:30 pm, or November 23rd at 10:00 am!

Embrace Metallic Accents. Silver and gold are the go-to metallics for winter decor, but you could even experiment with metallic colours like amethyst, rose gold, or emerald. The shimmery finish complements the glittering white snow beautifully, and they catch the light so well. Paint a few branches with metallic paint and pop them into your holiday urn, or grab some metallic outdoor accessories like lanterns, plant pots, or wind spinners.

Make A Statement Wreath. There are endless ways to customize your wreaths, whether you make them with fresh evergreen sprigs, twisted twigs, or whatever material suits your fancy. Think outside the box and try something different—maybe even integrate some cute novelty ornaments and funky fabric ribbons! Some folks have even taken to hanging their wreaths like a chandelier, with wispy evergreen plumes that hang down ever-so-elegantly. 

Give A Warm Welcome. A cute, festive welcome sign is a straightforward way of creating an inviting and warm atmosphere! We're really looking forward to our Christmas Welcome Planter workshop at 1:00 pm on November 30th. Come join us, and we'll show you how to make one yourself!

Put Up A Bird Feeder. Not only are ornamental bird feeders a lovely sight to behold, but the birds they attract are welcome visitors that are so enjoyable to watch. It's a win-win: you get to enjoy their pretty songs and colourful feathers, and they get to enjoy a hearty snack to help get them through the winter. We recommend buying a simple wooden one and giving it a cool custom paint job to fit with your chosen colour palette.

Get Some Potted Dwarf Conifers For The Porch. Little miniature Christmas trees are downright adorable! A variety like the Blue Star Juniper is nice and compact, and it would add tons of holiday festivity without taking up too much real estate. Pick out some pretty decorative containers and string some lights around them for maximum impact! And the bonus is you can plant it into your landscape in the spring.

Beautiful decorations and glittering lights make holidays at home all the more memorable. If you're in need of some fresh evergreen boughs or other winter decorating supplies, or if you'd like to register for one of our upcoming workshops, visit us in-store at Eising's, and we'll help you get your home winter-ready.