Totally agree about lavender being picky—learned that the hard way myself. Rosemary, though, is a champ. Another herb that's done surprisingly well for me is thyme. It spreads nicely between stepping stones and handles foot traffic pretty well. Plus, brushing past it releases a subtle scent that's great for an inviting outdoor vibe. Just make sure it gets decent sun and isn't sitting in soggy soil... learned that lesson too!
Lavender definitely has its quirks—I struggled with it at first too. Eventually, I figured out it really hates heavy clay soil, which my garden unfortunately has plenty of. After a few failed attempts, I ended up planting lavender in raised beds with amended soil and gravel mixed in for drainage. It's thriving now, but it took some trial and error to get there.
Thyme is indeed a fantastic choice for pathways. I've used creeping thyme between the brick pavers leading up to my front porch, and it's held up remarkably well over the years. One thing I'd add from experience: it does need occasional trimming back, especially if you have guests frequently walking through. Otherwise, it can start looking a bit unruly and even trip people up.
Rosemary is another reliable herb, as you mentioned. I've planted it near my kitchen door—convenient for cooking—and it's grown into a sturdy shrub that withstands both heat and mild frost without complaint. A tip I learned the hard way: rosemary doesn't appreciate being crowded by other plants. Give it enough room to breathe, and it'll reward you with healthy growth year-round.
If you're looking for another herb that's both practical and attractive, sage has been surprisingly resilient for me. It tolerates drought fairly well and adds a nice silvery-green contrast among darker foliage plants. Plus, fresh sage leaves are wonderful in cooking—especially around the holidays.
Overall, herbs are such a practical addition to outdoor spaces—not just for their culinary uses but also for their aesthetic appeal and fragrance. Just remember to pay attention to their individual needs regarding sunlight and drainage, and you'll have fewer headaches down the road.
Lavender drove me nuts at first too—mine looked like sad little twigs until I mixed in sand and gravel. Now it's finally happy. Also, totally agree about rosemary needing space...mine got crowded by mint once, and let's just say the mint won that battle.
Lavender can be tricky for sure...mine looked half-dead for months until I realized it hated my heavy clay soil. Mixing in sand definitely helped, but honestly, I still struggle with it sometimes. Glad yours finally perked up though.
And yeah, mint is ruthless. I planted some in a raised bed thinking it'd behave itself, but nope—it jumped ship and started popping up everywhere. Took me forever to get it under control. Rosemary seems way more chill, but you're right, it definitely needs its own space or it'll just sulk.
Your outdoor space sounds like it's really coming together nicely. Gardening always feels like trial and error to me—half the fun is figuring out what works and what doesn't.
Lavender definitely gave me trouble at first too. Mine wilted dramatically until I switched it into a pot with better drainage—adding gravel at the bottom made a huge difference. Mint though...yeah, learned that lesson the hard way. Still pulling random sprouts from between patio stones months later. Have you tried thyme or oregano yet? They're pretty forgiving and fill in gaps nicely between other plants without getting too crazy.
