IMHO, gravel is the worst treatment anyone could ever apply to an outdoor space. As I see it, your options are: 1) Leave the gravel where it is and purchase large containers and appropriate growing medium to garden on top of the gravel. Unfortunately, you will eventually get weeds (lots of weeds) growing in the gravel, and it will be constant, difficult work to keep them controlled. 2) Remove the gravel, which will require nothing short of a Herculean effort, and then plant into the native soil.

Martha

Actually, weeds in gravel or rock are very easily addressed with a weed torch. And a thick layer of gravel with no other vegetation nearby (and I don't see any) is not going to generate many weeds anyway.

But I do like the idea of a collection of different sizes and shapes of containers arranged in some key places.....similar to your inspiration photos #2 & 3. If you have never gardened before, then select plants that are very tough and adaptable and drought and heat tolerant. If you can provide a geographic location, we might be able to provide some suggestions.

I too inherited a gravel garden, and quite like it. Mine is fairly shady as trees have grown. It’s important to understand what’s under the gravel and how it drains. If there’s landscape fabric knowbthat you’ll have to cut through it to plant. Bulbs do well in gravel. Lavender if you have sun. I have hostas which are thriving. So do sedum. Weeding can be done with preen (preventive) or simply raking. Gardengals torch of course is probably the most fun.

Thank you all! I live in the Washington DC area and like I said the back area is VERY sunny. It is south facing. I would love some recommendations on plants ! I do already have quite a few weeds so trying to figure out how to deal with those...maybe I will look into the torch. I have already bought a few plants including a olive tree, a camellia, lavender and citronella. We will see how they go!

I found another inspiration post of a place that looks very similar to ours:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/254734922661513837/

Wanting to do A LOT of vegetation has me thinking you may want to bite the bullet and remove the gravel. You would not want to mix any mulch with it anywhere. You can plant individual plants in the gravel (by moving it aside from the planting hole.) As mentioned, large containers setting on gravel are another possibility.