Pebble Mosaic Paving

Unique Garden Paving that Never Goes out of Style

This is a close up of a pebble mosaic base of a fountain from Lotusland in Montecito, Ca.

My eyes turn to paving and paving details, wherever I go -

I notice the patterns, the joint widths, the materials and the edging.

Does that sound boring? Well, at least, I always have something to look at. :-)

The stone paving that is the most fun is PEBBLE MOSAIC paving.

I first saw pebble mosaic many years ago at the public garden, Dumbarton Oaks, in Georgetown in Washington, DC. Beginning in 1959, Ruth Havey and Mildred Bliss, the property owner, transformed an area that was meant to be a tennis court into a pebble mosaic garden. The pebbles were imported from Mexico and were set into “distinct patterns and colors, in the Italian manner.” It is an intricate design with curved limestone edgings enclosing beds of low growing thyme and sedum. The shallow pebble pool was meant to be covered by a thin layer of water to bring out the glistening colors, but is now dry.

The pebble mosaic pool at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC. Not to be missed! This wonderful photo comes from a garden tour itinerary from the Garden Design website.

The nest amazing example of pebble mosaic that I saw harks back to historic paving found in the Spanish Moorish era. It is the immense Plaza de España in Seville, Spain. I remember going there and just staring at the paving - the tilework, architecture, waterway are also marvels and are lauded- but no one seems to mention the pebble paving. It is quite extraordinary.

Plaza de España, the Spanish Steps in Seville - this is from Seville City Guide.

And pebble mosaic is not just found in Southern Europe - traditional Chinese gardens also utilized pebbles in their paving in elaborate ways. They were a defining feature in a Chinese garden. The classic reference, The Oxford Companion to Gardens, describes the paving in their description of a journey in a Chinese garden,

‘and the visitor is led on through them, not only by pebble-patterned pathways and open doorways…, but by the constant suggestion of something new and delightful…”

Ah, pebble-patterned pathways, such a great idea for several reasons. Paths and terraces with decorative, rounded pebble patterning or paving were indispensable because, not only were they beautiful, but, in the high heat of summer, the gardener might splash a few buckets of water on the walks. The water sits beneath the top of pebbles and cools the garden through evaporation. People could stroll on the raised paving without getting their shoes wet. It is an ingenious way to provide evaporative cooling to an outdoor space!

I took this photo at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino, Ca. It is in their Chinese Garden. A great example pf Chinese-inspired pebble paving in a garden.

Now, all this intricate pebble work may seem daunting but you can simply add brightly colored stones in a random pattern in a garden path. I took this photo at the Sam Maloof Foundation gardens. A good example of the beauty of stones and stone paving:

Stones set in a mortar base make a lovely mosaic walk. I took this at Sam Maloof foundation in Rancho Cucamonga, Ca. Another public garden to put on your must-visit list.

Probably the best known and prolific pebble mosaic artist in the U.S. is Jeffrey Bale. He writes about his discovery of pebble paving, "Then I discovered pebble mosaic as an art form when I journeyed to Spain and Portugal. I had no idea that pavement could be so beautiful. The Plaza de España in Sevilla is carpeted in acres of river pebbles set in waves, and the sidewalks of Lisbon swirl with exquisite black-and-white patterns....”

Jeffrey Bale art

Balewrote a detailed explanatory article for Fine Gardening magazine on how he actually installs pebble mosaic paving. He lists the process and the materials. It is a master class in how to actually do it. Here is the link to Jeffrey Bale’s article.

See the article about how Jeffrey Bale does it here.

I hope you enjoyed this post about pebble paving! There is s much to know about this. Portugal is also known for its stone paving too. BTW, I am the host for an

OCTOBER GARDEN TRIP TO PORTUGAL

Oct. 1 - Oct. 12, 2025

Would you like to join us? A captivating garden trip awaits – a fall tour of the gardens, castles, and vineyards of Portugal from Oct. 1- 12, 2025! Join me, Jan Johnsen, your lead horticulturist, on an enchanting journey as we discover the rich art, horticultural wonders and history of this fascinating country.

We will stay in Lisbon and Porto and visit the breathtaking Douro Valley, the unique palace and gardens of Monserrate, take a river cruise, marvel at iconic sites and enjoy the fall when the sunlight transforms the gardens into a mosaic of vibrant hues.

There will be only about 20 people on this trip so if you If you are interested please message me asap or go to the website: https://travefy.com/trip/6yw9rqu4xczsqz2aur22svcaa6rndza

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