Well, I don't blame you for being upset. But, let's just consider it lemonade as there is still some work to do before you are finished.
First, I'm so sorry to be watching the drought that you are in. I relate as I'm here in Central Texas and ours is yearly. Last year, we didn't have much of a winter because that has typically been our rainy season.
1. I would definite the walkway and put in a row of bricks to separate it from the larger stone beds. What I'd do would be to select a terra cotta colored brick that would pull in the shutters. A good way to add some color. Two ideas:
A. I'd consider your pathway just as if it were a concrete sidewalk. Then, take the terra-cotta brick and line the path. I'd put them at 90ยบ angles to the 'concrete sidewalk' just like if you were edging the sidewalk.
B. The only problem is the larger rock beds. They will eventually move over the bricks. So, I'd consider something slightly larger to edge those rock beds. Maybe they've all settled in their forever spot, I don't know. If you edged it with larger rocks, you could bring in some more and make a larger 'raised' bed. Everything looks flat at the moment.
2. Your flat concrete flagstone is all wrong. Not enough. I'd pull them back and save them to be used later. Plus the gray concrete doesn't add anything to what you are doing. You don't want a hop scotch design. It needs to flow. I'd give you that idea later. But for the moment, I'd stack them beside the house.
3. Did that company set the 3 larger rocks? Really? And those guys are professional. No ma'am. The 3 rocks need to be a grouping together. Like this, they are lost and you don't have a coordinated landscape.
4. Look at picture 1. Middle to the right. That's a great stone. I think you need at least one, two, maybe 3 of those to the left and set the 3 gray rocks around them. Make a good grouping.
5. I think you could add the other colored stone that you want. But, I'd do these first.
6. Lastly, I'm on a compact gravel parking lot. I'm having to make beds. I'm using wood chips. They are decomposing so nicely after a year+. Roots of plants LOVE the mycorrhizal fungi and their roots are just eating it up. I brought in some gray rocks to line my butterfly bed. But, I know that butterflies are nearsighted and not drawn to the color 'gray'. Upon studying it a little bit more, I decided I needed to stain those gray rocks. Went to look up concrete stain. Big box stores came up and so did their prices. Being very conservative with my money, I looked farther down to "Homemade concrete stain". It cost me $6 at the feed store to buy some "Copperas". I stained them all to a gorgeous rusty orange color... the exact color that would bring the butterflies in. Eventually, I pushed my perfect vertical bed back so it leaned in and was backing the soil at an angle. Otherwise, with rain and time, it would have blown out that short perfectly vertical wall. Then, I worked with the rocks to make what will be a Fairy Garden. I'll attach a photo. Please bear in mind that it's FAR from being finished. In another month, I'll be transplanting - bringing the largest plant off that raised bed and 5' in front. There will be another raised bed considerably shorter. But, roots will find their way down through the cardboard. Interesting thing. I did pull up one of the Copperas painted rocks to move. When I turned it over, I could see the outside of where roots were holding on it. Do some homework on Copperas. I'll be adding a smidgen to my water when I make up the next gallon with Epsom salt in it to. (We need the magnesium here.)
So, think about adding some height to your rock beds. Of course, this conversation could continue. At the moment, I need to get out and plant some things. But, it gives you some ideas to work with. Don't rush it. Just take one area at a time. If you are calling the gravel walkway as one of the textures of the rocks you have... don't. It's not. It's flat, with no texture. So, just ignore that, and consider making 3 textures using the other rock you have. That is just the paper on which you are drawing your landscape.
I think once you define your beds, you could eventually plan to plant something xeric. I'd probably need to pick axe down to see what your dirt in the original yard looks like. If you've got some, then roots will find a way.
I do like the beds of rocks that you have. They are large enough to be defined as rocks and they do have some color to them. What you add next will start giving them even more color.
Good luck with your yard. We both have our own crossed to bear in our separate yards. Just my suggestions. if they spur some thought, then all the better.
Found this on the web.... cool idea.
Future butterfly bed. This was taken when the rocks were vertical. The ones you see laying around, were all used to lay the bed back and prevent the soil from blowing out.
Hope this helps you.
