The seasonal stream at my house was treated with river rock, too. I know this not because I can see it, but because when I plant roses there, I encounter a layer of river rock about a foot down. I've been tempted to use river rock to define that same area; but I can never be sure whether the rock would be buried or washed away in a storm. So I'm "stabilizing" the area with roses. I'm sure I need to find some good heavily rooted short grasses to plant between the roses to actually hold the soil in place during heavy storms. Then maybe I can put down some river rock between all the plants. I actually like the look of river rock. I think it could serve well as mulch in places that get ample amounts of organic material from other sources. Yesterday DW pointed out that last month's water bill was $200, so I realize I could not keep expanding the rose garden to be much much bigger than it is now, even if I had the space. Indeed, right now river rock is looking better and better. Of course, in the middle of winter when I'm trying to figure out how I'll ever fit seventy more roses into the garden I'm sure most of its charm will disappear entirely.
