One other thing to note about cottage gardens (we have one). Definitely mix in some evergreens because otherwise your landscape will look very barren in the fall and winter when the plants go dormant.

Another tip is too look at bloom times. Most of these pictures were probably taken at peak spring. If you want to have beautiful gardens from spring to fall - mix in early bloomers with late bloomers.

Spring blooming:
tulips, daffodils, creeping phlox

late spring:
irises, salvias, catmint, lavender, roses

early -mid summer:
Dahlias (will last until fall)
Gladious
Tall Phlox
Tickseed
sprinkle annual seeds (zinias, cosmos, wildflowers)

Late Summer:
Coneflowers
Black Eyed Susans
Sunflowers

I think the key to this look is growing some things from seed and aggressively dividing perennials so you have lots of small plants rather than big clumps. I’m addicted to watching Gardeners World on BritBox and they go into this a lot as it’s a beloved British style.

Other key elements are verticality, mixing in edibles and a lack of tropical flowers.

Unfortunately for me cottage gardens are usually full sun and I have a shady yard.

Anonymous wrote:I love this style. When it's done right it just feels good. Wild, colorful, relaxed. I am having a really tough time executing it though

Take stock of what you do like about your house, which plants are successful, which colors you like together. Let that lead you.

Turns out I am awful at planning a garden but I keep plugging away at it (people are finally complimenting it!) and every fall and spring (depending on the kind of plant) I move some things around. Underperformers (looking at you, dianthus) get the hook to the backyard border (which looks worse but one thing at a time!) or if they’re really bad the yard bag. I’ll start shopping the end of season perennials to get more pale purple coneflower, blazing star and phenomenal lavender to fill in blank spots and add balance.

Cottage gardens are usually based on non-natives, work some in! They’re so much less work, don’t need staking, far less deadheading, etc. and they need so much less water. I walk through my neighborhood frequently and not many people have natives; I’m the only one who consistently has butterflies.

Anonymous wrote:and the house color is HEINOUS.

I love that house color. It’s nice to see houses that aren’t beige or grey.

I love this style. When it's done right it just feels good. Wild, colorful, relaxed. I am having a really tough time executing it though

I love this style of gardening. It reminds me of the garden my grandmother kept at our family cottage in the summers. She spent a ton of time on her gardens though, so I've always assumed it takes a tremendous investment of time (and money) to maintain.

Anonymous wrote:
Thats the worst cottage garden Ive seen. Try some gardening mags at Giant or Safeway. They alllll feature cottage styles. It needs varying colors. That pic is just red flowers and greenery. I would imagine some echinacea, something tall and yellow, more tall plants. . .some purple, maybe salvias, . .

Eesh, this isn't the parenting sub. You can leave the attitude there, please.

ok OP. I checked my latest mag for you. Some ideas would be:

Russian sage or a salvia (purple)
Echinacea (light purple)
Sombrero Red Salsa echinacea
Black eyed susan (yellow)
Coreopis
Sedum
Clematis

For fall blooms, theres

Aster
Autumn joy sedum

and the house color is HEINOUS.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone into cottage gardening? What are your thoughts?




Other examples here:

https://www.google.com/search?q=cottage+gardening&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwig_veS54zOAhWGeT4KHaeZApMQ_AUICSgC&biw=1182&bih=782

Thats the worst cottage garden Ive seen. Try some gardening mags at Giant or Safeway. They alllll feature cottage styles. It needs varying colors. That pic is just red flowers and greenery. I would imagine some echinacea, something tall and yellow, more tall plants. . .some purple, maybe salvias, . .

It looks to me like you don't leave any room between plants in a cottage garden. Is that right?

White Flower Farm has some garden plans on-line--you purchase the plants and follow their layout. I'm been wanting to try one for a long time, but am nervous about the time commitment.

Anonymous wrote:Into this style, but have no idea where to begin. I feel like this climate isn't that conducive to cottage gardening, as I associate this style with New England or English gardens.

I think they are really cute, but can get untidy and unsightly very quickly if you aren't on top of everything or if the design doesn't account for the seasons well enough.

I'm starting to get into gardening and would like to kind of do this style, but I have no idea where to start in regards to the design. I see flowers that I like and it matches my sun /moisture level but how do I go about tying all those different plants together for a well designed look?

I think they are really cute, but can get untidy and unsightly very quickly if you aren't on top of everything or if the design doesn't account for the seasons well enough.

Yes. There is a house near us and now I know the yard is supposed to be a "cottage garden". Thanks for posting.