The cottage garden style is based on a romantic notion of the traditional English village garden where flowers and vegetables grew side by side. Often a pig would be housed in the back garden, but that practice was discontinued many years ago. There are various ways to recreate the cottage garden style in a modern setting and Cheryl Freedman describes nine ideas in her article which I found on the Houzz website.
Cottage gardens never go out of fashion. Their romantic look can be achieved by planting a mixture of wildflowers and traditional varieties, such as roses or honeysuckle, as well as the addition of rustic materials, such as terracotta and wood. Best of all, cottage gardens don?t require a huge amount of space ? in fact, a tiny courtyard can look as good as a big plot. Browse these gardens for ideas.Get some inspiration
You don?t actually need to live in a traditional thatched cottage to enjoy some cottage garden romance, but you can gain some inspiration from this gorgeous scene.The best cottage gardens are about mixing up a variety of wild and traditional flowers for a relaxed, timeless look. Cottage garden staples include daisies, poppies, foxgloves, lupins, hollyhocks and stocks. Plant close together for a densely covered effect, and don?t worry if things get a bit on the tall side.Pretty up a shed
A wooden shed can easily be worked into your cottage garden ? painting it a rustic shade, such as this duck-egg blue, will give it a sweet, country edge. A heritage green or French grey would also look good. If your shed is plain, try adding scalloped edging or shutters to the windows to create a more old-fashioned look. You could even add some gingham curtains.Don?t forget to install trellis up the side for your honeysuckle or roses to climb up ? another mainstay of the cottage garden look.Add an arch
To add to the wild and free feel of your garden, build a structure that plants can clamber up. Find a spot where an archway would look good, such as the entrance to a pathway or a secluded seating area, and position the structure above it. You can buy ready-made arches in various sizes and materials to suit your space.This rose arch has been perfectly placed above the bench to create a peaceful corner full of colour and fragrance.
See more at Houzz
