Cottage Garden Makeover
Today's "Dear Angela" letter comes from yours truly. I have been longing for summer and longing for my old English Cottage garden, and have been really struggling with how to make an impact this season since we have so much to do in the new garden. So I decided to ask myself how I might turn a neglected corner of my backyard into a cottage garden I can love.
The garden as it looks now.
Dear Angela,
I moved to a new home this summer, and I have set aside a back corner of the garden for a romantic cottage-style garden, but I am having trouble envisioning what I might do or how it might look. Especially with that ugly shed in the middle of it all.
I also have to put in a fence along the green hedge to keep the neighbors dog out. The dog is very polite and well-behaved, but he has a habit of using my lawn for his morning constitutional. A low fence should suffice, but I can't picture how to put a fence with the arborvitae hedge there.
Can you help me?
Longingly,
~Self
The garden after digital enhancement.
Dear Self,
I spent some time with your photo, and as you can see I got a little (a lot) carried away. But even though this plan is somewhere in the realm of fantasy, I still think that it will help spark some ideas to get you going in the practical realm.
I started with the shed, giving it a virtual fresh coat of paint, French doors and coach lamps, Next, I found myself wanting to add trees. And plantings. And a patio. And a pathway. I also included a picket fence to solve your dog problem. Since you don't need a tall fence, this should work fine, and I like how the white pickets stand out against the dark green arborvitae. They also provide some additional structure for the blowsy cottage style perennials that I know you are looking for.
I hope this helps give you some ideas! And whatever else you decide to complete, I hope you include some climbing roses, like the "New Dawn" I envision clambering over the shed. You can't beat climbing roses for a cottage garden. Beautiful and fragrant, they are a must have.
Sincerely,
P.S. If any of you need a little digital help envisioning your space, let me know! I really enjoy doing these and will do one each week.
"New Dawn" climbing rose adds a lovely cottage style.