Cottage gardening is an attitude, not a location.
When I read that sentiment about cottage gardening, I immediately identified with it. As a busy mom, I tend to just plant the things I love and enjoy and then let the garden do its own thing.
Some describe a cottage garden as artful chaos, another sentiment I like. Chaos I have definitely nailed. Artful? Well, as they say, art is in the eye of the beholder. I try to at least keep colors somewhat harmonious. (Matching colors is an art thing, right?)
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| 'Spanish Eyes' Black-eyed Susan Vine growing on veggie garden fence |
For some reason, when I call what I do 'cottage gardening', I feel a little less guilty about my lack of weeding this hot and droughty summer. Weeds or no weeds, the bees and butterflies still come, which makes me happy.
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| Monarch butterfly on 'Miss Molly' butterfly bush |
My goal is to have all of the garden plants fill in so fully that there isn't any room for the weeds to grow, another inclination right in line with the philosophy of cottage gardening. (Though I have to admit that in certain areas the dense planting is going a little too well, and I have to keep pruning the cosmos so that visitors can reach the front door. Cottage gardening bonus: I don't get any door-to-door salesmen!)
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| the plant gauntlet |
There is definitely more weeding and pruning and editing to be done in the garden, which I am starting to do now that the weather has turned cooler. But more than anything, I'm just enjoying the garden...
...which I think is definitely in line with the cottage gardening state of mind.
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| bumblebee on native Azure Blue Sage |
Happy gardening!
Your garden is looking great!
ReplyDeleteI have the same philosophy about letting garden plants crowd out weeds. (It's working better in some places in my garden than others. And I do agree that cosmos can get out of hand. I had a virtual forest of the stuff in my backyard earlier this year. It burns out in late summer here in Tennessee, so I've already cut it down and that was a CHORE.)
Love the azure sage. I'm growing it for the first time here and think it's my favorite salvia so far. And it's a native!
The sage is such a gorgeous color! It does get a little floppy, but it looks great supported my other flowers in my blue and gold garden. And the bees sure enjoy it!
DeleteLovely to have a garden full of bees butterflies and blooms. Your butterfly bush has a beautiful color.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I grew my my butterfly bushes from cuttings, so I'm extra proud of them!
DeleteThe perfect cottage garden!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks!
DeleteI love a cottage garden AND a cottage garden state of mind! We have those things in common. Some of the plants others consider weeds have a place in my garden--especially if they're native plants. It's a lived-in garden. :) That fence view is lovely! Good for you ... enjoying the garden!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way. Some of those native 'weeds' bloom the longest in my garden!
DeleteYou have the perfect Cottage Garden, so lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Evelyn!
DeleteA lived in garden here too. And happy plants briskly crowding out the weeds. One small section of tall grass to sort.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to see a garden coming together, isn't it?
DeleteMy attempts at a cottage style back garden has turned into something extremely wild. A state of mind! (I like that)
ReplyDeleteSome parts of mine look quite wild, too. :)
DeleteI'm a cottage gardener, too, and think your chaos looks wonderful! Just call the weeds native plants since many of them bring in droves of pollinators, too! :o)
ReplyDeleteVery true. I don't mind the native weeds so much, especially if they bloom!
DeleteCooler weather? I'm still waiting to feel it.
ReplyDeleteIt's downright chilly here. It might not have hit Florida yet, but just wait. Winter is coming...
DeleteIndie, your posts always make me smile, ha, cosmos guard the front door from salesmen...much prettier than having an attack dog. I may try that next year, maybe a vast swath of Bubblegum petunias in a maze to slow down the unwanted door-knockers?
ReplyDeleteMy garden has completely gotten away from me this fall, I decided to just wait a bit and when I'm doing the fall cleanup I'll weed at the same time. (At least that's my intention, we'll see if I follow through.)
Windy and cold here today, no doubt about it, winter is coming.
We have very similar gardening philosophies. I love the look of your garden!
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