Your garden has lovely bones and as the planting matures in your raised borders the generous look will develop. A border separating your lawn from the gravel area would add interest by creating separate rooms. You could have a wide opening whilst the lids are still running around and then narrow it and add an arch at a later date.
Excuse my child life drawing skills but do you think something like this @Butterfly66? That sounds like a really fab idea. Gives that separation I was looking for but doesn’t take up to much grass, or I could go on the other side and put it on the gravel side…
@lizzie27 aw thank you, I have worked hard at it. I did everything myself and it was a lot of work so I think im even more frustrated at myself that it’s not quite what I wanted but it was me that did it lol. And yes I think for the short time the kids are little, the garden is their special place too and I don’t want them to feel it isn’t for fun and playing in.
Nice garden, indeed, and a lot of lovely hard work. But it's not a 'cottage' garden by any stretch of the imagination, to my mind. Far too straight laced, trendy and formal. Relax. I reckon you're trying too hard. Read up on the history of cottage gardens.......you might be surprised. They weren't known for their whimsicality.
Yes your probably right, I am trying too hard and over thought it all to the point I missed the mark as I noted. Just looking for some advice now on how to soften what I have without ripping the whole garden up and starting again. It would be easier to move tbh lol
Your garden has lovely bones and as the planting matures in your raised borders the generous look will develop. A border separating your lawn from the gravel area would add interest by creating separate rooms. You could have a wide opening whilst the lids are still running around and then narrow it and add an arch at a later date.
Excuse my child life drawing skills but do you think something like this @Butterfly66? That sounds like a really fab idea. Gives that separation I was looking for but doesn’t take up to much grass, or I could go on the other side and put it on the gravel side…
Yes that’s exactly what I was thinking of 🙂
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
@SlipperyElm aW thank you. I think because I’ve always wanted a cottage but don’t live in one I wanted the garden to at least be cottage-y but your right, I should focus on making it more whimsical and not worry too much about what style it is. Thank you
Hi @janewinton89, you have created a very practical garden for your current family needs - there's plenty of space for your children to play and your planting has been well protected! It's also been done with good quality materials, well done!
I think that you could very quickly add a lighter more whimsical character to your borders with grasses - they add height, movement, light and shade and a magical presence when left uncut over winter.
I'd recommend that you keep your planting simple and easy to care for at the moment so that it doesn't become a chore when you have a growing family. It will gradually evolve as your needs change - enjoy it!
I think you should spend time appreciating all the work you have done on the garden.
For floof, add some high umbellifers like fennel, wild carrot, pimpenella. Add more climbers and ramblers to clothe the fences - clematis, solanum, rambling roses everywhere over arches and arbours. Add herbs, flowers, fruit and vegetables together - useful things.
It might not be your taste. Your taste in furniture looks more contemporary. 'Cottage style' seems to me more about 'natural materials' - wood, stone, wicker, old brick etc. As others have said, soft edges rather than squares and boxes, rambling rather than carefully planned.
It's looking lovely so far. I think the quickest and cheapest way to get a nod to the feel you are after is by having gradually varying heights in the planters. Treat them like island beds as you can view them from all sides. Tallest plants in the middle then working down to tumbling low growing things over the edges like Hardy geranium.
It's very lovely already! I think the effect you're looking for is that slightly wild look of abundance perhaps, rather than it being strictly a cottage garden? The edges of your garden feel quite abrupt- I think getting some climbers on your fences will quite quickly blur your boundaries and help enhance the lovely planting you already have.
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East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
I think that you could very quickly add a lighter more whimsical character to your borders with grasses - they add height, movement, light and shade and a magical presence when left uncut over winter.
Have a look at the "Gallery" section on this site for inspiration: Knoll Gardens | Ornamental Grasses and Flowering Perennials
I'd recommend that you keep your planting simple and easy to care for at the moment so that it doesn't become a chore when you have a growing family. It will gradually evolve as your needs change - enjoy it!