[mumofstig]

There is a strip of old path outside the front of my house that grows a very good crop of weeds. I'm assuming that if weeds can grow something prettier can
It is mostly old degraded tarmac and stones mixed with poor soil:( There is a pink rose growing through the tarmac on the house wall that's very pretty.) It gets sun from midday on and it's a wind tunnel as well.....i know....conditions are getting worse and worse
Any suggestions for what might manage to survive here, i have some Alchemila which i've grown from seed, so will try some of those, but any other ideas?
I could try seeds sown direct or grow plants and put them in as many little holes as i can find............... over to you

[Bombers]

Sounds like Alpine counrty country?

[richyrich7]

Nasturtiums they like poor soil 

[DavidT]

Aubretia should do well.

[mumofstig]

Thanks folks...off i go to peruse the seed books now i know a few things that will survive

[FCG]

How about a patch of wildflower meadow? You can pick up a good packet of wildflower seeds just about anywhere now and throw them down with a light sprinkling of soil over the top you'll be golden.

[richyrich7]

There's probably more than we can think of that will grow in that kind of soil, good drainage then you could also consider lavender and Rosemary they will probably do fine there. When you say sun after midday is it West facing ?? If so then it will get quite hot there, try chilli peppers as Monty Don was saying on the TV they don't like it too rich.

Hardy geraniums and a lot of herbaceous perennials may well do ok, if you improve the soil a little with Multi purp compost.

Grasses too don't mind poor soil.

[mumofstig]

It's not so much a soil border as patches of soil, near the house, in the tarmac/stones of the path along the terrace .....can't really be digging it up much, but was hoping for something to soften the look of it, if you know what i mean
and yes facing West it does get hot in summer, but it's more or less in the shade all winter, as it gets mossy:(
and when it's windy..........it's a wind tunnel along the railway line

That's why i was struggling as in the subject......it is a difficult position

[richyrich7]

I might be tempted to go with some grasses TBH, keep them well watered in their 1st year, they will sooften the edges up and put up with the wind, will also give structure and a sense of movement + they tend to be there all year round even if they go dormant you still have that years growth to look at over winter.

[mumofstig]

Thanks for the ideas folks