sorry no one has given you any advise to date. What sort of bed do you have? Is it sloping towards the path?

You may need simple creeping plants but do take note that creeping plants by nature do get into the pathway. These kinds will hug the earth and so is perfect for soil errosion controls. It is a simple matter of cutting them whenever it gets in the way. Thyme will do and there are several types to create an interesting combination. Avoid invasives such as goats beard, creeping jenny or sweet woodruff.

However you can also consider sedum autumn joy which has a clumping look to it. lavenders or even some low ornamental grasses such as a blue fescu. I like the looks of euphorbia but its sap is toxic and may break easily when one brushes against it, so if it is by a pathway, perhaps it's not such a great idea.

I am a big fan of Sempervivums when you want a low border plant. They can form quite a dense clump and will keep the soil in place nicely. The babies can invadea bit for some ssemps, but they are pretty shallow rooted and they pull up very easily.

Some other low plants are Armeria, Dianthus, Ajuga (invasive, but easy to pull up), and Campanulas.

BP

BP

Thanks so much bonniepunch and ianna for your excellent suggestions, I apologise for not responding before now.

This forum is so great - looking forward to reaching out again when I need friendly advice. I'm also going to find out how I can post pictures, which as they say, are "worth a thousand words"!

Another one that is really nice and looks like it is becoming perennialize in my gardens is a shorter variety of Sweet Williams. Mine grew and flowered at about 8 inches in thick clumps. I bought the seeds at the Dollar Store just because my daughter saw them and wanted some. Glad I did! I am now collecting seeds from them in the gardens furthest away from the tall varieties and hope they come true.