Making a Cottage Garden

Embracing bright colors and informal design

Welcome to Melina Mantey ’s garden .

Color has always been a priority in my garden . The bright and more various , the unspoilt . When I first started out , I was aware there were sure gear of idea on color pallette and pattern , but I did n’t give care . I just wanted to look out my windowpane and see a riot of colour . Now that I have been around the block a bit , I know this approach shot is called a cottage garden . I was thrilled to discover these , and I have spent the past few years paint my garden in splashes of semblance and turn it into my own version of an English countryside garden . I ’m moderately lucky live in the Pacific Northwest , because there is n’t much that does n’t grow here . I ’ve been able to try out until my heart ’s content ( OK , well , a nurseryman ’s eye is seldom totally contented ) and learn what does and does n’t work in my yard purely by test and error .

I did n’t come in into this with a caboodle of experience . It part off jolly dull in fact , with mostly pots and maybe a few annuals in the primer ( oh , and hydrangeas , because — of course ! ) . However , it slow get over clock time , and before I know it , I was on a first - name basis with my local nursery . This past twelvemonth or so , my garden has really take flesh , as a difficult day often ends with a plosive speech sound at a greenhouse or a tour around my garden . There are always Modern thought to crop , plan , and execute ; and as it is with many multitude out there , gardening has been a therapy for me . It has helped me cope and even work through aspects of PTSD , which cook me grateful every daylight that my plants and I have found each other . When I first lead off out , it was because I just wanted to see something beautiful when I looked out the windowpane , but now I finger that same beauty within myself . It ’s amazing what a beautiful plant and a plot of land of turd can do for the intellect , body ( ouch ) , and soulfulness .

As for what you’re able to find in my garden besides just bright colors and random pairing , there are a few “ go - to ’s ” I have when it comes to imbed shopping . I can seldom defy a coloured genus Heuchera , and I have so many unlike types of sedum in my garden I have lose count . I like anything that is going to give me colouration and shape year - round , particularly in the low months . Heather is also a great one for that . As for more seasonal options , roses , lavender , hydrangeas , and salvia are always great long blunder that keep the pollinator coming .

Hellebores ( Helleborussp . , Zones 4–9 ) make a long - live on show , even after the flowers have faded to green .

Spanish lavender ( Lavendulastoechas , Zones 7–10 ) is long blooming , with fragrant , purple flowers .

twice - flowered tulips add an excess dose of drama to the fountain garden .

Hen - and - chicks ( Semperviviumsp . , Zones 3–8 ) make a beautiful container that will still look respectable even if your forget to water .

colour in the garden can come from foliage too .

Bright annuals land a splash of acute color .

An assortment of plants with gold foliage can brighten up even the gloomiest of days .

What would a cottage garden be without rosiness ?

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