Question
Hi Marc,
I have a 1910 Victorian in NJ.  I am designing a garden walkway from my wrap around porch to the rear porch.  I am unsure on what type of gravel would be most appropriate historically.  3/4 River Stone (gray, white, multicolored) or the tan stone.  My house is earth tones and I will border it with the Pilgrim Brick.  Any suggestions?  

Also, I am unsure on how to lay it out.  I am edging it with brick long ways on the edge.  I plan to use 2 inches of gravel.  Do you think I need those plastic brick holders?  Will the soil keep the brick secure to hold in the stone? Any advise is appreciated.  Thank you in advance.  Ken  

Answer
If I understand your questions correctly, I think either type of stone will fit, "historically" (stone and gravel has been around since before the pyramids.  The folks at Williamsburg, VA use crushed oyster shells, which I think is pretty cool!

I would avoid "smooth" stones, as they get slippery when wet, and they make quite a loud, crunchy sound when walked on...unless you like that sound~  2-3inches should be enough.

As to construction details, here is a website showing how to build a gravel path edged with large river rocks, but you can substitute your bricks just as easily...

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?catref=bcat698&storyid=/templatedata/bhg/how-to...

To lengthen the life of the path, and slow it's edge's unraveling, I would set the bricks in on their edge (the narrow & long side facing into the earth), but you don't need any type of edge restraint...it should last at least a few years that way. I am assuming that you do NOT have severe slopes or muddy conditions.  If you do, then, I'd move to method two (below).

If you really feel line you want it to last a long time, you can (but do not need to) set the brick in the earth in "soldier" course.  As the name implies, they are installed shoulder to shoulder, buried into the earth about half the length of the brick (4").

~Marc