Call me a romantic but I much prefer seeing some greenery than seeing exposed aggregate or concrete. Unfortunately, the trend at the moment is to replace gardens and green lush front curbs with pavers or decorative concrete alfresco areas and patios.
But there are ways to add some green to your exposed aggregate driveway or concrete pool area.

Pots and planters might be an obvious choice but how to choose them and how do you actually plant a seed and what should you even try to grow?

What about vertical gardens? How to start? What plants should you choose? how do tend to them? 
Raised gardens beds could also be a good option if you are looking at growing a lot of flowers, veggies or fruits, provided you have the time to care for them!
For the gardeners out there, build a greenhouse. 

Pa~dam! Well, more than these came in, but I didn't want to overwhelm. :-p I'll mention the Shire Classics book in another post, because I've quite a few of the Shire books.

Another order from Book Depository! I've had Ronald Searle's Tres Riches Heures de Mrs Mole on watch because it was an out of print book. The truly jewel-like illustrations (hence, the title) were never meant to be published, as they were each done for Searle's wife each time she had a chemo treatment. She is Mrs Mole. And heck, I can't help a few tears when looking at these, for they are very precious, very loving, and of course, so very beautiful. I guess they printed some more, that's how I got my copy. A hardcover with dustcover, if you love illustrations I really recommend running to Book Depository and getting this beautiful book, for it is an expression of hope and the greatest of loves, given during a time in the Searles' lives when things seemed darkest.

Woo hoo! With all good intentions, I've a pile of garden/botany books needing reading for certain story research. It's nutty that Elle Black's POISON GARDEN manuscript has been hanging around since this time last year because it gets overlooked for other things supposedly More Important. That's not cool, it's going to be another great mystery/horror story and she needs another book. Gee, Elizabeth, get to work! ;)

But this one crossed my path because Theodora Goss recommended it on FB. I can't have a garden (unless in containers), and the gods know I'm very good at killing poor, green things, but nature itself and the act (or art) of growing things are sometimes where poetic understanding begins.

A Rizzoli publication! WHO loves Rizzoli coffee table books? I do! And the libraries who cull their lovely hardcovers and sell 'em? Me! So *my* copy has that cellophane archival wrapping on it that librarians do, and yes, the numerical markings, but it's still in Fyne condition and heck, I got it for under 10 bucks. nOW I may immerse meself in the English country life!

PEERING into the cottages and gardens I would certainly not be allowed in. Cor, blimey!

That's not the best pic, nor the best spread! But what a score. :D

~~~ of course there will be more books later. When does it end? Never! ~~~