I found a way to have an inviting outside room that's easy to maintain, by edging the area with semi-buried (no cement) bricks (given to me) around the area I wanted as my "patio". Then I filled in a circular section with mulch over a weighted down tarp (weed clothe). I have inexpensive perennial flowers around it, a donated: dogwood, hydrangia, (sp?) irises (find someone who will divide theirs for you : ), and tiger lilies. I used a ground cover of wild violets. I dug up about 8 from my
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yard and they've covered all the non-mulched area. We love the space. Oh, the flowers I used have different flowering times, so there is always something in bloom. I also have a "donated" Rose of Sharon tree and hibiscus in there...and an offspring Crape Myrtle from my front yard Crape Myrtle "mama". I really don't have to do anything. : )
The Gardener and Home Talk member Walter Reeves has an article on this. See this link.
He can help with almost any Garden question.
http://www.hometalk.com/member/v19117w9bo