That's just perfect for all kinds of stuff. Mat forming thymes like creeping thyme, mother of thyme, wooly thyme.

Lavenders will love it and come up with beautful scented blooms.

or how about forms of sedums

Vinca minor (periwinkle) might work well too. They say it prefers shade - but is supposed to do well in full sun as well. It's a great ground cover - no mowing needed. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Info on Periwinkle

I also have this problem and am so glad I checked out this forum for possible answers. My steep slope goes right to the street from the side walk. I can't get to it with the mower and slide down the hill as I try to weedeat it. Going to look into finding some creeping thyme seed to start and hopefully get it going this summer. My problem has been finding something low enough not to get cited by the city for something growing too tall. Thanks for your input.

I was walking down the street and was so taken with someone's moss garden that I put a note in their mailbox; a beautiful low lush dense green covered with tiny white flowers.

Myself, I have had very good luck with creeping thyme so far - and I have seen that work as far north as Québec City.

imo, the nice thing about groundcovers is the unexpected flowers. Periwinkle is also very effective, and of course violets will take over anywhere - might infiltrate the neighbours!

Apparently moss looks after itself more and more as it's established, but takes some weeding at first. I've been reading up since my sighting - I plan to put some in myself. This link has a nice moss-grower's handbook in the download section.

I wish I'd taken a photo of that garden - would be worth a thousand words.

Here is a link that might be useful: British Bryological Society

Thanks so much for all the replies. I had a hard time finding my way back here so that's what took me so long to reply to all! We have started some greek oregano but I'm not sure how long it will take to be big enough to transplant. Meanwhile our front yard looks like the dickens because hubby killed off the grass on the slopes. Oh, well, a few more weeks and it should look a bit better. Thanks for all the suggestions! Tina

it sounds like a perfect place for wildflowers. the steep hill needs fibrous deep rooted plants to hold the soil. if you plant some of the creepers and moss - they may not hold due to the steep slope.

My neighbor has her entire slope covered with blug rug juniper. It's beautiful. She has to pick out baby trees once in a while but it's no care otherwise.

Here is a link that might be useful: pics of juniper