Cottage Landscape

Here 1026 images. Maybe you can pick up a few ideas here.

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First rule, improve the soil.  Second rule, obey the first rule.  We do not grow plants but soil.  The plants present merely reflect the health of the soil.  This is especially true with a cottage garden, wherein weeding is minimum because we want the plants to grow and crowd out the volunteers.  Decide where you want the beds to be, keep them wide and deep with curving borders, line them with cardboard or newspaper six sheets thick, and pile on the leaves from the trees.  These will break down over the winter to create an ideal top layer through which you will plant

Plant selection follows the rules of threes.  Plant at least three levels of plants, in groups of three, and select plants so that we have flowering in three different seasons.  After the plants are selected, planted and then moved to a more preferred location attack the site with spring flowering bulbs, again following the rules of threes.  Constantly replenish the organic matter atop the soil:  Leaves in the fall, compost in spring and shredded bark in summer.

First rule, improve the soil.  Second rule, obey the first rule.  We do not grow plants but soil.  The plants present merely reflect the health of the soil.  This is especially true with a cottage garden, wherein weeding is minimum because we want the plants to grow and crowd out the volunteers.  Decide where you want the beds to be, keep them wide and deep with curving borders, line them with cardboard or newspaper six sheets thick, and pile on the leaves from the trees.  These will break down over the winter to create an ideal top layer through which you will plant

Plant selection follows the rules of threes.  Plant at least three levels of plants, in groups of three, and select plants so that we have flowering in three different seasons.  After the plants are selected, planted and then moved to a more preferred location attack the site with spring flowering bulbs, again following the rules of threes.  Constantly replenish the organic matter atop the soil:  Leaves in the fall, compost in spring and shredded bark in summer.

First rule, improve the soil.  Second rule, obey the first rule.  We do not grow plants but soil.  The plants present merely reflect the health of the soil.  This is especially true with a cottage garden, wherein weeding is minimum because we want the plants to grow and crowd out the volunteers.  Decide where you want the beds to be, keep them wide and deep with curving borders, line them with cardboard or newspaper six sheets thick, and pile on the leaves from the trees.  These will break down over the winter to create an ideal top layer through which you will plant

Plant selection follows the rules of threes.  Plant at least three levels of plants, in groups of three, and select plants so that we have flowering in three different seasons.  After the plants are selected, planted and then moved to a more preferred location attack the site with spring flowering bulbs, again following the rules of threes.  Constantly replenish the organic matter atop the soil:  Leaves in the fall, compost in spring and shredded bark in summer.

Of course follow Paddy Kevin's advice to start the garden. For plants I recommend the following: Foxglove, Fern, Peonies, Roses such as Betty Prior and the Carefree Blanket Roses, Pennywort, Primroses, and plenty of bulbs both spring and summer/fall blooming like hyacinths and spring and fall blooming crocus and rhizomes such as iris. Try White Flower Farm's website for more ideas. While the rule is groups of threes, for a sophisticated Cottage Garden which looks as if it has been there for a while and grown naturally I like to plant in "drifts". Also pay attention to benches and a few selective pieces of statuary (age it with stain or brush it with milk and leave it in the shade to get mossy). Cottage Garden magazine has a lot of great ideas.

Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love- full of beautiful photographs, ideas and landscape diagrams.  Great source for inspiration and ideas...