Style : Gardens : WISE CRACKS

Driveways always have been a blight on the garden landscape. Until now. Huge chunks of boring concrete and unappealing asphalt are giving way to innovative paving designs that blend so cleverly into the garden that they almost don’t look like driveways at all.

The benefits are practical as well as aesthetic. The new driveways reflect less heat and glare than the traditional expanses of hard surface. Their cracks allow rain to soak into the ground, so they waste less water. And every blade of grass growing in the gaps does its share of scrubbing the air.

Many geometric patterns are created with Turf Stone blocks--available at Concrete Paver Systems of Los Angeles--which are full of holes for planting grass or plants. Sturdy stones, broken concrete, thick pavers or even a combination of all three can create the more natural look. Whatever the materials, though, the new landscape looks more coherent. It is no longer lawn here, driveway there.