Historically, cottage gardens were a necessity when everyone didn’t have access to grocery stores and grew their own food and medicine.
Today however, they have evolved from purely functional to luxurious with decorative features such as masses of perennials, picket fences and arbours with vines. Gardeners who love large plantings and prefer a contemporary style over formal tend to gravitate towards cottage gardens. Here are some tips to adopt this style to your own garden:
### Geometry:
Cottage style is informal with deliberate winding paths to lead you through the garden. The goal is not to get from ‘Point A’ to ‘Point B’ as quickly as possible but to linger and enjoy the sights and smells before reaching the destination. This can be achieved through winding paths that curve in and out and plants that overhang walkways which create a feeling of being part of the garden.
### Colour:
This style of garden is all about vibrant colours! Either stick with a palette of bright colours such as red, orange and blue or softer shades such as pink, purple and white. Select a combination of perennials that will provide colour from spring to fall that repeat the colour theme.
### Plant Selection:
These gardens tend to have less lawn (if any) and more planting. A typical plant border has a staggered height change from groundcovers along the pathway to tall plants such as grasses at the back of the border. Cottage gardens however, follow no pattern and you are not only mixing plant heights but shapes as well. For example, mixing the spiky bright purple gayfeather with the bright yellow daisy-shaped black eyed susan. There are also pockets where annuals and or spring bulbs are planted to add more pops of colour such as tulips or alliums.
### Structural Elements:
It is typical to use hardscape material such as gravel or stepping stones for walkways or even mulch or grass for a more natural look. Wood features such as picket fences, arbours or pergolas also used at walkway entrances with vines such as roses or annual morning glory. Also make sure to add features such as bird baths, bird houses, urns or garden globes to give you that final cottage garden touch!
Click on the picture above to see our garden slide show, or check out our [Caledonia Natural Oasis.](https://gelderman.com/blog/119/caledonia-natural-oasis) Do you have a cottage garden? Please share your photos with us on our Facebook page.
Until next time,
Andrea
*Post contributed by Andrea Weddum, Landscape Designer*
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