Shabby Garden

[MaryK]

does anyone have pictures of gardens done in a shabby chic cottage theme?

or any ideas you can share with me ?

MaryK

[ChapterTwo]

Here are some links that might help, MaryK!

I think that a cottage garden is pretty much the same "feel" as a shabby chic garden. The first link is a bit about the shabby chic idea.
http://home.families.com/blog/creating-a-shabby-chic-garden

Here are some cottage garden photos:
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=cottage+gardens&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=O98aTJ7zOYSdlgf1t73MCQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDoQsAQwAw


If you scroll down on this site, look to the left where it says: READ MORE LIKE THIS, for more ideas on how to have a cottage garden:
http://www.gardenguides.com/75335-build-cottage-garden.html

[shabbychick]

Here's a link to Rachel Ashwell's blog. If you scroll down a bit, you'll see pics she has posted of her garden. It looks like a lot of roses and lavender. You might consider taking your inspiration from the flowers on linens and wallpaper in shabby decorating styles.http://rachelashwellshabbychic.blogspot.com/

[Carrie]

From what I understand of cottage gardens, they are pretty informal. Climbing roses, any roses, lot's of roses bachelor buttons, black eyed susans, zinnias, sunflowers, clematis growing up a fence, wildflowers, hydrangias snowball bushes, lavendar, mums, daisies, cone flowers, actually whatever you like. Some people like to do color schemes, though I just plant what I like. If you wanted to add a shabby chic touch, look for old garden statues that might be a little weather worn, vintage lawn furniture, seating areas in an area of the garden, wrought iron fixtures, painted white, old decorative garden gates used as a place for vining plants to climb. If you look out for estate auctions, or even thrift store or salvage yards you can find lots of stuff to incorperate into the garden.

[shabbychick]

When I was a kid, our neighbor had an old toilet in her yard in which she grew geraniums. It was a bit more shabby than chic. I also saw a really cute garden where they actually put an old iron bedstead in the garden and then planted flowers inside of it. It was adorable. I've probably got more statuary than plants in my back courtyard. It kind of looks like a cemetery, to be honest. Maybe I should add a few more plants. :)

[Carrie]

I've got quite a bit of statuary too. I never meant to collect it, but a relative passed away and I inherited it. I have dog statues, metal and cement, angels, a little girl in a sunbonet sitting on a bench, shepards hooks, decorative garden stakes. My mom came to live with me and she wanted them. I put them in the garden, took a good look at the garden and almost went into shock. There were so many and they looked kind of tacky. As I started incorporating more flowers and taller flowers into the garden, they started to blend in.

[vintage girl]

Shabby,

So funny you mentioned the toilet in the yard. I have two in my yard. One is white and one is pink. The white one is in my rose garden, and the pink one is in the middle of my yard underneath my Mulberry tree.I also have the matching pink sink. When my neighbor moved in across the street several years ago, she remodeled the 50's bathroom and gave me the sink and toilet. I think she thought I was crazy for wanting them, especially when I put them in my yard. I also have several bed frames and metal headboards, old wheelbarrows, buckets, wagon wheels, old farm watering pumps, two large metal windmills, old tricycles, several bird baths, etc. I think you should put whatever you enjoy. I used to plant flowers in all my buckets and wheelbarrows, but the upkeep was just too much. Especially since we have very very hot summers where I live. Now I put "treasures" in them. Treasures are old bottles, farm tools, statues, etc.
Here is a wonderful pic of gardens in unique containers. I wish my garden looked at nice as this, but just don't have the time. I put some pics of my crazy yard also:)

[shabbychick]

I love the pictures. Thanks for posting them. Will you post a picture of your pink sink and toilet? I'd love to see them (I have a weakness for pink). I agree that some things look just as good without something growing in them. I did like the picture with the plants in the old wagon. I'd plant lettuce in my wagon if I didn't need it to haul things around.

I wish more sinks and toilets came in attractive colors other than white. Bathroom fixtures could benefit from a designer with some real imagination.

[vintage girl]

I will take a pic tonight. I saw something this past weekend that made me think of you. My friend's antique store got an amazing dresser on consignment. It is very large and the style is french provinicial. What made me think of you is that it has been painted pink. A bright vivid deep fuschia pink. Sounds like it would look hideous, but it is gorgeous. I wanted it so bad, but the price was $800!!!!! Way too much for my budget. But oh my gosh I have been thinking of that dresser since Saturday. It would look great in my spare bedroom. I will try and get over there this weekend and get a pic of it to show you. It is too die for:D

[Carrie]

Vintage Girl, that is so cute. I liked the wagon best. I would love to find a little red wagon to do that with. I would want a gently used one with character, like yours.

[shabbychick]

Ooh, that pink dresser sounds gorgeous!! I hope you can get a picture.