Cottage Garden Style – Rose Arbour 
No matter how big or small your garden space it is very easy to create a cottage garden. I have always believed that the garden surrounding your home is an extension of it and most definitely adds character. The fundamental elements though are the same for any style garden, i.e. having a good base, a garden design including the placing of the plants and shrubs. It is beneficial to have featured trees, an addition of some kind of water feature and of course a vegetable plot. Cottage gardens attract birds, bees and butterflies and provide a peaceful sanctuary. Of course, a cottage garden would not be complete without a white picket fence. Fortunately the fence was already in place when we bought our home 11 years ago.
A Peaceful Spot in the Garden – A Favourite Place to Sit To Observe Birds Visiting the Garden
Before planning this type of garden, it is helpful to have some knowledge of the material you are going to plant. Many a time in my early gardening days I have ended up with a tall perennial blocking a small low growing one.
Cottage garden flowers that immediately come to mind are old fashioned roses, hollyhocks, foxgloves, peonies, lupines, poppies, sweet williams…the list is never ending.
Examples of Cottage Garden Flowers.
Roses, Single and Double
Peonies, Foxgloves, Poppies and Painted Daisies
These types of gardens do take a while to get established but you are well rewarded by the end results. I do tend to overplant but I find in the end it avoids weeds encroaching. Perennials are very easily divided once they have outgrown their space. For example shasta daisies and fall asters can get a bit out of hand. Once divided the extra plants can either be distributed elsewhere in the garden or neighbours are happy to receive them. It is always a challenge to get continuous colour throughout the year but that is when annuals help to add that extra burst of colour. With the addition of containers and hanging baskets they can help fill in the lulls in the garden.
The benefits of a water feature. Love watching the birds come to drink from the pond and my grandchildren are always fascinated by the fish.
The haphazard style may not be to everyone’s taste but I hope this does give some inspiration. For further reading on this topic visit https://www.bhg.com › BHG.COM › Gardening › Design › Styles