Cottage gardens are attributed to English origin and are typically colorful and carefree in form.
As the Englsih explorers began to travel to other regins in the 18th and 19th centuries, they would collect flowers from all over the world. The flowers which we think of as native to English Cottage Gardens, were actually from many other countries. For example They grew: Penstemon from North America and Mexico Chrysanthemums from China, Korea and Japan Delphiniums from Continental Europe, Asia and North Africa Lupine, Rudbeckia and Golden Rods from the Americas The bulbs in English gardens are from a hundred countries in several continents Foxgloves from the Mediterranean as well as Europe and Asia Nasturtium from South Africa
Originally, these gardens were created by the workers that lived in the cottages of the villages to provide them with food and herbs with flowers planted in for decoration. The more common flowers to the cottage garden were hollyhocks, delphinium and daisies in addition to the flowering herbs. The method of planting closely packed plants reduced the amount of weeding and watering required.
Today, a cottage garden is often primarily flowers and completely free-form in nature. Many gardeners attempt to use heirloom varieties of plants in their cottage gardens to preserve the antiquity of the method. Annuals, perennials and many roses are at home in cottage style gardens.
Give your newly planted cottage style garden time to fill in, spill over the edges of walls and sidewalks to provede that 'Aged' look we associate with these beautiful gardens.