Sharon did an entire article on the beauty of blue in the garden. I'd go with a brilliant blue for contrast, but that's just me.

Beck I sure hope mine looks that good when I get it built. What did you use in the path areas?

Everyone - Thanks for the vote for "blue". I was working in my backyard today and took a break and sat down for a few minutes in that area. I kept thinking I should go with my initial idea of blue. I am going to get some blue cushions for my lawn furniture in the outdoor patio area right next to the garden room with the 3-tiered bed. And I might even paint the concrete bench blue to match and pull it all together. Thanks for confirming that blue would look nice and be a good contrasting color! After I get it painted, I'll post a photo so y'all can see how it turned out.

Lynn - I weed-eated (to ground level) the grass/weeds that were growing in my future path. I put down weed cloth and then spread red cypress mulch around the path area. I added a paver every few feet as well. It turned out much nicer than either my dh or I thought it would. It really looks pretty when all the daylilies are blooming! Then the zinnias and tropical milkweed take over by the time the daylilies stop blooming.... so the new flowers are for the butterflies and bees!

It is beautiful Becky, I love it.

Today's random idea was about blue in the garden

The thread "Good suggestion" in Garden Blues

Thank you for the link Mary. Just reminded me that I need to add more blue to my garden this year.

Thanks to everyone for the inspiration to use blue paint. Won't be painted for another month or so, but I think it will look really nice to have more blue in my garden. Nothing blooming yet in that bed, just green blades of the daylilies. The top plant is a Black and Blue Salvia for the butterflies and hummers. It has beautiful deep blue flowers! One of the reasons I love that plant!

Mary - Thanks for that link! I have other items around my yard that I think I will also paint a matching blue. I loved the photos of items on that link which were painted blue or were blue pottery. I really loved Holly's blue water bubbler! She has done so much to her yard, that I am always in awe! It really is eye-catching! Very inspiring! I'm now absolutely sold on using blue paint!

You're welcome Becky! I need to add some blue to my garden, too

Interesting reading!

My mom wants some more veggies at her house this year and with the flower bed areas filling in I considered the inexpensive pre-fab raised beds and ruled them out, the closer you get to an actual raised bed kit the more the idea co$ts. I was curious about mortar but as mentioned in the thread there are a few adhesives for landscape blocks to choose from. I think last I used was a Loctite product and the job has held up fine for 10 years or more. The house was painted last year and there is leftover exterior paint. I like the idea of painting those ugly gray blocks and perhaps using a contrasting paver for caps? Think I'll get some bagged garden soil and start a grass kill and plan on the raised cinder block bed being a Mother's Day thing.

It'll give her lawn loving neighbor something to worry about until it's completion.

Wes - Oh! I think your mom will love her Mother's Day Gift! For me with carpenter ants and termites here in abundance, concrete is the preferred hardscaping material. I wished I could find some inexpensive and light-weight cement or aluminum poles or posts to use instead of wood 4" x 4" for my arbors and other taller structures. Concrete is the way to go for a strong, sturdy, and long-lasting landscape structure.

I like the idea of painting the cinder blocks to match the house and the concrete caps a contrasting color! That will look very nice! I hope you will take a photo of it when it is done and post it here for myself and others to see! I never thought to make the caps a different color! I really like that idea!

As a mother I can't think of a better gift to receive, wonderful idea Wes.
We just put another one in with 2 more to go, bringing the total to 14, and still have 3 wooden ones to replace as time and money allow.

I'm with Becky, sure hope you will take photos for us.