| Cottage gardens are traditionally thought of as | | | | walls, and furniture and decor is simple and |
| English gardens, lushly planted with colorful jumbles of | | | | comfortable. |
| flowers and shrubs, and grown in areas with mild | | | | Some easy to grow, drought and heat resistant |
| winters and cool summers. Unfortunately, most | | | | plants perfect for the American cottage garden |
| places in the U.S. outside of the Pacific Northwest do | | | | include yarrow, valerian, Russian sage, coneflower, |
| not have the proper climate for an English garden. | | | | coreopsis, scabiosa, joe pye weed, daffodils, |
| Luckily, American cottage gardens are just as | | | | sunflower, butterfly bush and roses. Many herbs also |
| beautiful and better adapted to our climate. Still based | | | | love heat. Sage, thyme, purple basil, golden oregano |
| on the lovely informal array of flowers and shrubs, | | | | and lavender all thrive in my high desert garden. |
| they are perfectly suited to most informal suburban | | | | Annuals can be seeded directly in the garden and |
| homes or country lots without the need for a huge | | | | many self sow for next year as well. Good cottage |
| English manor garden space that few of us have. | | | | gardens choices include cosmos, annual sunflower, |
| American cottage gardening encompasses using more | | | | cleome, alyssum and poppies. |
| drought tolerant and native plants, plants that are | | | | Cottage gardens are magical places, full of charm, |
| hardier for cold winter climates, and plants that | | | | whimsy and surprises, and a perfect place to let your |
| tolerate and even thrive on the sunshine. The style | | | | creativity in the garden shine and grow. Don't forget |
| tends to look natural and free flowing without any | | | | to add a meandering path, a rustic or painted arbor, |
| plan or design, however does indeed usually have a | | | | and a picket fence here or there. |
| backbone plan to bring out the best in plant color | | | | My own garden here at The Garden Glove is a |
| combinations and textures that compliment each | | | | cottage garden style, and I wouldn't have it any |
| other. That being said, cottage gardens are also | | | | other way. See photos and read articles on cottage |
| places where self seeded plants may be allowed to | | | | style gardens at TheGardenGlove.com |
| pop up as they will, and the garden is always a | | | | cottage_garden.html. |
| surprise from one season to the next! Flowers, | | | | If you're looking for a laid back style, beautiful easy |
| shrubs, vegetables and herbs may share the same | | | | care flowers, and a charming feel for your home and |
| beds, and roses abound! Vines soften fences and | | | | garden, cottage style is for you. |