Several years ago Fine Gardening magazine featured an article that referred to five traditional elements of a cottage garden. Some time ago I mentioned that what I call my cottage garden really isn't the traditional sort of garden space with that moniker, but since it's my garden... I can call it anything I want! Today I thought I'd review those five elements in respect to my version of the cottage garden style. Perhaps I should consider changing the name of this particular gardening space, but I like the term 'cottage garden'!
Element #1: "A low fence or stone wall often encloses the garden and is a vehicle for plantings". This is probably where I score the highest in my personal cottage garden debate. In 2008 I started adding more of my own style of cedar fences that work well in my opinion in terms of defining the area from the driveway. This fence design has been with me for many years and fencing in this style has come and gone over that time. Only problem here is that traditionally the cottage garden would have been on the other side of the fence... closer to the "cottage"! Additionally behind the completed gray stained fence here is a low stone retaining wall that I created.
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| 2008 fences being added a section at a time |
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| 2008 |
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| 2008 |
Element # 2: Berry and vegetable plants, as well as fruit trees, reflect an emphasis on self- sufficiency.
I love what this says and stands for, but I'm totally negligent in this aspect of gardening. Actually there used to be apple trees of my own planting in this very spot as well as many other fruiting trees and grapes throughout the gardens. I gave them up for two reasons... first spraying (I know there are other alternatives but they haven't been all that successful here)... many years ago I sprayed all the neighbors fruit trees as well as my own until I was told I needed to go through tests because of possible cancer. I was relieved to be cancer free, but it really made me think twice about the spray regimen, which soon lead to getting rid of the fruit trees. So as far as "element #2"... do a few nasturtiums count?!
Element # 3: "Common flowering plants, especially fragrant ones, grow in profusion." At certain seasons, I do ok in this category. Examples are the sweet alyssum, oriental and orienpet lilies, some years fragrant varieties of nicotiana... less common wonderfully fragrant brugsmansias... the scent in this garden can be amazing during certain months of the year...
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| 2009 |
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| 2009 |
Element # 4: " Abundant and rambling plants grow right up to the house or other structures". Right up to the fences... yes... otherwise I'm pretty much a zero in this category and there isn't room to build a small structure to give me a few points. I've always imagined our gazebo working in this way, but that's in a totally different part of the garden where it's hard to reach with hoses. The arbor definitely fits into this element... hey, now that I think about it, maybe I actually have lots of cottage gardens!
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| 2008 This is about as rambling as it gets...Thunbergia vines growing on poles |
Element #5: "Self-sowers are encouraged" I did better with this earlier on... actually in the 2008 season, but you know, it didn't take long to realize that this isn't really my style. The salvia Marble Arch (blue in the photo below) looked a bit overgrown to my eye, I was ok with the bluish salvia farinacea, the nicotiana sylvestris always self seed but tend to overwhelm the garden, especially if I leave them where they come up, cosmos generally make more foliage than blossoms for me. It just looks too messy when I allow more than a few self-seeded plants, so I guess in the end, I'm a bit short on meeting this aspect of cottage gardens.
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| 2008 |
In the end, I like well-intended placement of "self-sown" annuals, which means that for the most part, I start them early and place them in such a way that I can pretend they were self-sown and folks can say "isn't it amazing how organized Mother Nature can be!" I guess that the particular plants used say cottage garden to me more than whether or not they've self sown, as in zinnias which I intend to use a lot this coming season in this area.
So... that's what Fine Gardening magazine says a cottage garden "might" be... now for better or worse, mine is slowly evolving into an example of a "Cottage Garden according to Larry"
Conifers are prevalent as are flowering trees, all of which connect the cottage garden into the surrounding gardens...
There should be plenty of paths in and through the garden...
Annuals are particularly valuable about the perimeters, providing season long color and fragrance...
The use of lilies is is prevalent offering color, fragrance, and verticality...
The use of draping clematis is significant in providing height and at the same time tying the garden to its spot...
The addition of Japanese maples provides another dimension and texture to the garden...
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| Tobiosho |
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| Osakazuki |
My take on a cottage garden includes provision for 'sitting a spell'...
When viewed from the appropriate angle, the effect of Fine Gradening's Element # 4: " Abundant and rambling plants grow right up to the house or other structures" kicks in and the garden appears to abut the structure of the old cheese factory...
So there you have it... I certainly don't meet all the qualifications set forth by Fine Gardening magazine... but I feel I've captured the essence and ambience of a cottage garden. A gardener really has to work towards the things that are pleasing to oneself. With the bones consisting of several dwarf conifers, flowering trees including crabs and a magnolia, hard scape including a low stone wall backed by fencing, numerous paths, perennial vines and provision for annual vines, and seating my personal "elements" for a cottage garden are met in this space. The beauty of it is that planted annuals can be provided in a great many 'pockets' and great diversity can be met without a huge expense since a few of this and that give the impression of a great many.
With that I give you... "the cottage garden at Oak Lawn Cheese Factory". Thanks for visiting today, Larry
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| 2010 "Larry's Cottage Garden" |
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