![](http://www.ScaleRailsOnline.com/images/Galleries/Philip H/2909/IMG_3993.jpg)
So based on the advice of a good many of you, I have tried colored sanded grout as the first line of ground cover. The above is a shot of the grout (in Nutmeg) after it had set for 24 hours. I sprinkled a fairly even layer on the layout and mised it with filtered water. The variations in texture were created by using more or less water. Looks pretty good to me!
FWIW the yellow hue is a lighting issue, not the color of the actual grout.