There is a great tradition of elaborate "floors" for outside use. The Romans created intricate mosaics on courtyard floors, a skill that reached its zenith in richly decorated Islamic outdoor
pavements. In the Middle East and India, decorative walkways were composed of ceramic tiles laid in geometric patterns.
Tessellated tiles, rescued from a crumbling city pathway and destined for a builder's skip, make an enchanting detail in a flower bed.
