The Perfect Carpet

A new room needed new carpet. Out went grass and junipers; in came annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrubs, and vines. Adding pavers, gravel, a hedge, and a Japanese cryptomeria on one side created a microclimate significantly milder than Atlanta normally is supposed to be. "I can grow all of my Mediterranean cooking herbs--thyme, winter savory, marjoram, rosemary, and bay," Anne says. She also grows chives and parsley.

photo: Golden thyme spreads between and around the pavers, adding color and soft texture.