Large concrete pavers with river rock around them is a great look for a walkway! If you dont mind a little work or have someone to help you can DIY it. We made 3’x2’ forms out of 2x4s put them in place using a level and mixed up bagged concrete in a wheelbarrow for a path in our backyard. It looked really good with river rock but because we had crushed rock in the rest of the yard we recently changed it out for crushed rock.

Bordering it we have texas native red yucca Hesperaloe Parvifola. A lot of mid century homes use sculptural plants like octopus agave, we have these along the front of our house.

Another tough beautiful texas native is texas olive, Cordia boissieri which

makes a great large shrub or small tree. Its white flowered big leaved plant in pic.

Its relative Cordia Parvifolia blooms all summer

There are so many great varieties of texas ranger in different sizes, leaf and flower color to use as shrubs.

On a budget you cant beat cacti which are the easiest plants to propagate, just pull off a leaf and stick it in the ground so you only have to buy one!

Starting with smaller plants is a great way to economize and they are easier to move if you decide they would look better in a different place, which i do a lot!