For any steps to be and look finished, they need a landing.

What are you envisioning the lower level to be, if not grass? Do you intend for there to be a lower patio? (which would stand in as, and override, a landing.)

"A path to the fence gate and the garage door needs to be maintained." That's something you'd calculate out in plan view. No good picture (or plan) of the route exists in order to give good feedback about its layout.

ideas:

I'd do a search on Houzz for ideas. What these have in common is a structure with well-defined beds. I'd lay out the beds with hose or string, so you can see how the paths would work. Then pick a style (formal or wild), then a color scheme. They it's a matter of picking plants.

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