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.

Every climate has plants that thrive.

Anonymous wrote:Great for anyone who has plenty of time on their hands or the means to hire help.

+1 this (and a smaller yard)

Anonymous wrote: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

This is a good selection. Jackmanii Clemantis has blooms here and there all summer after its initial show. I intertwine it with a rose bush.

You can add:

Iris
Roses (Not the ubiquitous Carefree varieties)
Daylilies
Daffodils
Salvias
Lamb's Ear (Proliferates wildly so be careful with this one. Children love lamb's ear because it's velvety soft.)

Plan carefully so that you have at least a couple of varieties blooming from Spring through Fall. Perennials multiply over time, and you will need to periodically thin them out. Offer the extra plants to other gardeners, and they will probably reciprocate with something you want but don't yet have.

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Anonymous wrote: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.

That show sounds awesome and I’m going to look for it. Tropicals can work in cottage gardens. Hibiscus can be a wonderful addition. Zinnias and salvias are so easy to grow

I’m surprised and thankful no one suggested the dreaded daylily.

Agree about hibiscus. My neighbors go batty over the ones in my garden.

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Anonymous wrote:I wish I could do that! I have corner lot and a half so I think it's just too big.

Lots of cottage gardens are contained along the borders. That makes it more manageable and allows you to keep most of the grass. Cottage gardening is more about a diversity in plants / colors than the absence of grass.

You are going to stress yourself out trying to achieve a garden like this. One, many of the plants in this pic bloom only a few weeks a year, not months. Also, there are a lots of plants in the ground in the pic: I know this is a silly statement, but hear me out, someone had to put all these plants in the ground and pay for them $$$$$ plants have become expensive after COVID. In addittion, plants are subject to bugs and diseases and fungi, a garden like the one in the pic doesn't get that way without a lot of chemicals. Lastly, weeds will get in they way unless you mulch, and this style doesn't really accommodate mulching.

That’s actually an easy garden to put in and maintain. The bed is very neatly mulched. And plants aren’t that expensive if you know where to buy them.

or grow from seeds.

For some of these plants (some of the ones that are perennials that is), it will take at least three years to look like plants in pic if grown from seed.

That’s fine. I bought plugs and small starter plants and just waited for them to grow. Much cheaper than buying big containers from garden centers.

Good point.

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I wish I could do that! I have corner lot and a half so I think it's just too big.

Lots of cottage gardens are contained along the borders. That makes it more manageable and allows you to keep most of the grass. Cottage gardening is more about a diversity in plants / colors than the absence of grass.

You are going to stress yourself out trying to achieve a garden like this. One, many of the plants in this pic bloom only a few weeks a year, not months. Also, there are a lots of plants in the ground in the pic: I know this is a silly statement, but hear me out, someone had to put all these plants in the ground and pay for them $$$$$ plants have become expensive after COVID. In addittion, plants are subject to bugs and diseases and fungi, a garden like the one in the pic doesn't get that way without a lot of chemicals. Lastly, weeds will get in they way unless you mulch, and this style doesn't really accommodate mulching.

That’s actually an easy garden to put in and maintain. The bed is very neatly mulched. And plants aren’t that expensive if you know where to buy them.

or grow from seeds.

For some of these plants (some of the ones that are perennials that is), it will take at least three years to look like plants in pic if grown from seed.

NP. The picture contains a mix of annuals (definitely see impatiens and maybe petunias) and perennials. The annuals grown from seed will bloom within a few months of planting - and can be planted/germination in succession so there are constantly new blooms if you don't want to deadhead.

I seek perennials from neighbors, FB groups and the distressed plant rack at Lowes where they're at least half off. I might splurge and buy harder to find plants but it doesn't have to be expensive at all. And, unless you've got a ton of money, absolutely every single gardener must have patience for the plants to mature or settle in. That's just nature.

As far as what's in the photo being high maintenance, it's not. I've got almost the same set up as what's in the photo and it's not intensive at all. I'm in my upper 50s, overweight, have 3 teenagers, work FT and don't like sweating in the heat. Certainly, there's some effort involved but it's not like I'm slaving over or bound to my garden.

I understand if this isn't your thing or if it's more effort than you want to put in - but you are way off base in your assertions. My beds have at least 3 inches of wood chips, don't have a harmful levels of bugs/molds/weeds and I don't use any pesticides. I occassionally use a fungicide for the peonies/camillas (which are prone to mildew). I don't even use fertilizer.

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I can see our HOA going berserk.

HOAs need to get over it. Pesticide filled spans of non-native green lawns are awful for the environment.

+1

And it's best to have a cottage garden with natives. You can use pollinator-friendly annuals, like zinnias and marigolds, to fill in gaps.

It isn't "best" for any reason, you are being sneaky, you are just stating a preference of yours.

WTH?

Not pp but it is preferable to use natives. They support native bees and more.

Nope I will not limit myself to native plants. Why not tear down all building and rip up all highways and let all land go fallow and back to nature. My planting non-native plants is less harmful than buildings or highways.

No one said you need to limit yourself to natives. But it’s just a fact that native plants are suited to our climate and soils and provide food and shelter for pollinators and birds.

I have a back garden that could be described as “cottage style” and it’s 80 percent native plants. Then I mix in some other favorites, such as spring bulbs, dahlias, and zinnias. I love it and it isn’t high maintenance or particularly expensive to maintain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I can see our HOA going berserk.

HOAs need to get over it. Pesticide filled spans of non-native green lawns are awful for the environment.

+1

And it's best to have a cottage garden with natives. You can use pollinator-friendly annuals, like zinnias and marigolds, to fill in gaps.

It isn't "best" for any reason, you are being sneaky, you are just stating a preference of yours.

NP but why is it sneaky? The conversation was the best and easiest way to start a cottage garden. Natives are designed to grow in the area: suitable to the soil, climate and supportive to local wildlife, including pollinators. Natives are naturally resistant to pests. And for me, best of all i don't need to water my native garden because they just need rainwater.

But you don't have to grow native. Many plsnts that are food sources are non-native. There's obviously more variety of you plant non- native. As long as it's not invasive, you're OK.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I could do that! I have corner lot and a half so I think it's just too big.

Lots of cottage gardens are contained along the borders. That makes it more manageable and allows you to keep most of the grass. Cottage gardening is more about a diversity in plants / colors than the absence of grass.

You are going to stress yourself out trying to achieve a garden like this. One, many of the plants in this pic bloom only a few weeks a year, not months. Also, there are a lots of plants in the ground in the pic: I know this is a silly statement, but hear me out, someone had to put all these plants in the ground and pay for them $$$$$ plants have become expensive after COVID. In addittion, plants are subject to bugs and diseases and fungi, a garden like the one in the pic doesn't get that way without a lot of chemicals. Lastly, weeds will get in they way unless you mulch, and this style doesn't really accommodate mulching.

That’s actually an easy garden to put in and maintain. The bed is very neatly mulched. And plants aren’t that expensive if you know where to buy them.

or grow from seeds.

For some of these plants (some of the ones that are perennials that is), it will take at least three years to look like plants in pic if grown from seed.

That’s fine. I bought plugs and small starter plants and just waited for them to grow. Much cheaper than buying big containers from garden centers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I can see our HOA going berserk.

HOAs need to get over it. Pesticide filled spans of non-native green lawns are awful for the environment.

+1

And it's best to have a cottage garden with natives. You can use pollinator-friendly annuals, like zinnias and marigolds, to fill in gaps.

It isn't "best" for any reason, you are being sneaky, you are just stating a preference of yours.

WTH?

Not pp but it is preferable to use natives. They support native bees and more.

Nope I will not limit myself to native plants. Why not tear down all building and rip up all highways and let all land go fallow and back to nature. My planting non-native plants is less harmful than buildings or highways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I could do that! I have corner lot and a half so I think it's just too big.

Lots of cottage gardens are contained along the borders. That makes it more manageable and allows you to keep most of the grass. Cottage gardening is more about a diversity in plants / colors than the absence of grass.

You are going to stress yourself out trying to achieve a garden like this. One, many of the plants in this pic bloom only a few weeks a year, not months. Also, there are a lots of plants in the ground in the pic: I know this is a silly statement, but hear me out, someone had to put all these plants in the ground and pay for them $$$$$ plants have become expensive after COVID. In addittion, plants are subject to bugs and diseases and fungi, a garden like the one in the pic doesn't get that way without a lot of chemicals. Lastly, weeds will get in they way unless you mulch, and this style doesn't really accommodate mulching.

That’s actually an easy garden to put in and maintain. The bed is very neatly mulched. And plants aren’t that expensive if you know where to buy them.

or grow from seeds.

For some of these plants (some of the ones that are perennials that is), it will take at least three years to look like plants in pic if grown from seed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I could do that! I have corner lot and a half so I think it's just too big.

Lots of cottage gardens are contained along the borders. That makes it more manageable and allows you to keep most of the grass. Cottage gardening is more about a diversity in plants / colors than the absence of grass.

You are going to stress yourself out trying to achieve a garden like this. One, many of the plants in this pic bloom only a few weeks a year, not months. Also, there are a lots of plants in the ground in the pic: I know this is a silly statement, but hear me out, someone had to put all these plants in the ground and pay for them $$$$$ plants have become expensive after COVID. In addittion, plants are subject to bugs and diseases and fungi, a garden like the one in the pic doesn't get that way without a lot of chemicals. Lastly, weeds will get in they way unless you mulch, and this style doesn't really accommodate mulching.

That’s actually an easy garden to put in and maintain. The bed is very neatly mulched. And plants aren’t that expensive if you know where to buy them.

or grow from seeds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I can see our HOA going berserk.

HOAs need to get over it. Pesticide filled spans of non-native green lawns are awful for the environment.

+1

And it's best to have a cottage garden with natives. You can use pollinator-friendly annuals, like zinnias and marigolds, to fill in gaps.

It isn't "best" for any reason, you are being sneaky, you are just stating a preference of yours.

WTH?

Not pp but it is preferable to use natives. They support native bees and more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I could do that! I have corner lot and a half so I think it's just too big.

Lots of cottage gardens are contained along the borders. That makes it more manageable and allows you to keep most of the grass. Cottage gardening is more about a diversity in plants / colors than the absence of grass.

You are going to stress yourself out trying to achieve a garden like this. One, many of the plants in this pic bloom only a few weeks a year, not months. Also, there are a lots of plants in the ground in the pic: I know this is a silly statement, but hear me out, someone had to put all these plants in the ground and pay for them $$$$$ plants have become expensive after COVID. In addittion, plants are subject to bugs and diseases and fungi, a garden like the one in the pic doesn't get that way without a lot of chemicals. Lastly, weeds will get in they way unless you mulch, and this style doesn't really accommodate mulching.

That’s actually an easy garden to put in and maintain. The bed is very neatly mulched. And plants aren’t that expensive if you know where to buy them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I could do that! I have corner lot and a half so I think it's just too big.

Lots of cottage gardens are contained along the borders. That makes it more manageable and allows you to keep most of the grass. Cottage gardening is more about a diversity in plants / colors than the absence of grass.

You are going to stress yourself out trying to achieve a garden like this. One, many of the plants in this pic bloom only a few weeks a year, not months. Also, there are a lots of plants in the ground in the pic: I know this is a silly statement, but hear me out, someone had to put all these plants in the ground and pay for them $$$$$ plants have become expensive after COVID. In addittion, plants are subject to bugs and diseases and fungi, a garden like the one in the pic doesn't get that way without a lot of chemicals. Lastly, weeds will get in they way unless you mulch, and this style doesn't really accommodate mulching.