How to Create a Country Cottage Garden
Traditional Cottage Flowers for an Old English Style Summer Garden
May 27, 2009
A traditional cottage garden breaks all the rules of garden design in that it creates the illusion that there isn't any design; flowers are planted together in such a haphazard way that they look like they naturally wild and unattended. This is a romantic and sentimental notion of what a traditional country cottage garden should be, although the origin of cottage gardens may have been of a more practical purpose.
The Origin of Cottage Gardens
There is some debate over the origin of English country cottage gardens, although they were not exclusive to England; there was some form of country 'cottage gardens' throughout Europe. Originally, country cottage gardens may have been created as a local source of fruit and vegetables; herbs were also prevalent in cottage gardens. Cottage gardens were just that – the garden of a country cottage, created for necessity and not for ornamental purposes; however, eventually large estate houses had 'cottage gardens' too.
Today, the term cottage garden is used to describe any informal garden design of sprawling plants and may not necessarily contain traditional English cottage garden plants; indeed, the garden of the artist Monet, at Giverny in France, has been described as cottage garden style by some, due to its sprawling nature, although it is made up of water gardens, various plants and colors, not true to original cottage gardens.
The Basic Cottage Garden
A country cottage garden had no need of a lawn; there was usually a path winding its way through the mass of plants and flowers, allowing access to tend to the plants. Today, a simple country cottage garden can still be created in a relatively small place; choose plants carefully and they will require minimum attention, leaving time to relax on a well placed garden bench amongst the flowers.
To create the characteristics of an old-fashioned English country garden include some of the following:
- old style fencing and a gate/arbor for climbing plants, particularly roses, to climb up
- 'antique' pots for plants
- old style watering cans either for watering or to plant flowers in
- re-cycled earthenware, old drainage pipes, old pails or even chimney pots can create an authentic appeal to the traditional cottage garden
- an old wooden bench will provide a place from which to enjoy the garden.
Cottage Flowers for a Country Garden
Some of the more popular and traditional flowers which would have been found in an English cottage garden include:
- roses – old fashioned or climbing roses such as the Gallica or Damask rose will add fragrance and authenticity to a cottage garden
- lavender – a popular aromatic herb and flower, lavender would have originally been used in the cottage garden for its medicinal and aromatic properties
- climbing plants – in addition to climbing roses, cottage garden climbers include honeysuckle and, in a more modern cottage garden, clematis, both fragrant and beautiful to look at in the summer months
- tall plants – such as delphinium, foxglove and hollyhock will add depth and color to a country cottage garden
- perennials – carnation, peony, lily, crocus, wall flower, marigold, tulip and sweet william
- annuals - stock, pansy and violet.
Other Plants Found in a Cottage Garden
Originally, fruit trees, for example apple, would have been found in a traditional cottage garden and used to make things such as cider; smaller fruits, such as raspberries and gooseberries, would also have been found in the cottage garden. Elderberry and hawthorn not only provided hedging in the cottage garden but the leaves, berries and flowers would have been used to make wine, tea and medicinal lotions.
The English Cottage Garden Today
Today, the term cottage garden is used a lot more loosely than in its original context; a cottage garden in today's world can simply mean a 'natural looking' garden without any visible garden borders or design. However, a traditional English country cottage garden can still be achieved with a bit of research and planning.
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