By Mary Jo Baur
Cottage gardens have a long history in England. They typically include a path to the front door of a cottage surrounded by a picket fence and gate, perhaps with an arbor covered with climbing roses. What especially characterizes this kind of garden is the vast array of flowers blooming all season, planted without a specific design and rather closely spaced. Cottage gardens include both perennials and self-seeding annuals, sometimes some herbs or even vegetables. They can include whatever you'd like to plant.
The area between my side door and front door is what I call my cottage garden, even though there is no fence. It is enclosed by a brick border and has a casual assortment of flowers that bloom at different times of the year. It's the place where I might try out some new plants wherever there is an empty space. I don't usually need to mulch because the plants are pretty close together. I don't quite have the romantic flair that I think of when I picture English gardens, but it's a work in progress. I haven't really planned the color combinations, but depend on a variety of foliage textures as well as blooms to provide interest. You should choose plants that don't need much pampering. Easy care is the way to go with a cottage garden. Try a wild mix of whatever flowers appeal to you, and you'll most likely enjoy the results.
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