We've had real problems keeping weeds at bay on our brick patio, which was laid directly on the soil. Now I'm tearing up the patio because of a sewage problem and I'm thinking of putting down a dry-laid stone patio with some decorative brick. I'm hoping that I can plant something like creeping time or dwarf mondo in the joints between stones and keep weeds at bay that way.

Is this a good idea? If I do this, do I just lay the stones on the soil, or should I go the whole gravel and sand route? That is, will the plants I want grow in the sand or do I need real soil there? Or will this just get overrun with weeds, too, and I should just mortar the whole thing?

Your local library should have books on landscaping, including the subject for which you inquire: hardscaping. Even if you would like something to grow between the stones (such as elvin or any other sort of thyme), it is best to lay sand first and pack it well. The process is somewhat involved and I believe the subject is well worth the research.

Nadine is right about the sand. I usually put down landscape fabric first, then the sand, then the brick or stone. The last project I did like this I actually used a paver base that I really like better than the sand but the sand works well too. When I have used sand, I just used a large amount of potting soil in the area where I planted (I used thyme) and it worked fine.