Help with plants and front yard

[yarborough house]

hey all-

well I finally got some pics done of the front yard and such. Here is my problem. I am a type A personality- anal my kids say :) anyway, I want a cottage garden but it is impossible for me to haphazardly throw plants down I seem to always want to plan them and have them symetrical. It drives me crazy. I've attached some pics to show you what is done so far - any ideas to make it more cottagey-wild looking?

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[Heather]

It looks good Tammy! What about wildflowers? I've done the annual ones and they look FANTASTIC, I'll try to find a pic. Would that be too "wild" for you?

[ChapterTwo]

It looks great, so far! How about some rocks in between those plants that are surrounded by bricks? And I agree with Heather, wildflowers would give it that "unplanned" look you're seeking.

[yarborough house]

Here are some planters that I have done out front or on the front porch.

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[ChapterTwo]

Suburban gal that I am, I would never have known that was a chicken feeder! ;) I think all your little floral touches really look great. LOVE the old chair as a planter...

[Heather]

Those are cute planters!

I can't find a pic of the wildflowers I had and they are gone now - I'm trying to grow Hollyhocks instead.

Anyways, from what I understand the cottage garden look is that no dirt shows, just abundant plants and flowers. I may be wrong....

When I was researching the cottage gardens I found that the Better Homes & Gardens website had lot's of free garden plans and pictures to show you what the plants looked like.

Hope that helps!

[Heather]

ps I see the green on your house better now.... it does look grey on you avitar.

[annielinz]

You are on your way you just need more for impact. Heres some pictures for inspiration.

Sorry these pics are so small.

[yarborough house]

YOu are right I need more for impact. But it is a large house so therefore a large yard surrounds it. I am trying to go with mostly perennials as it is lot to upkeep. I feel I need more green also that can be backdrop items to help out some.
It is hard but it will get there. I want perennials but they don't bloom a long time so trying to get different ones and also ones that will spread.

I'll get there. I told hubby we need more rose bushes as they provide a great pop of color in summer and spring..we do have climbing roses planted along the fence posts - they are small now but when they climb over the top of the fence that should help out immensly.

I keep on adding more.

thanks for your comments..

[mac78]

I want your picket fence. I love it. It all looks good so far.

[ChapterTwo]

Yarborough House - For a long blooming pop of perennial color, don't forget Black Eyed Susans! I don't know about your area, but here in the Northeast, they bloom from around June right through to Fall...and they spread, from year to year! :)

[rubyslippers]

If you get 6 hours of sunlight along the picket fence, then I would plant shrub roses, climbing roses, etc. Google both Chamblee Roses and Ashdown roses for information. The "shrubs" and "climbers" are great as are the knock-out variety. Plus, you might want to click over to my all time favorite dutchgardens.com - - some coneflowers might be pretty. They also have some planned borders. Check it out! I am in love with this little house. Keep us posted!

[Lisa S]

Your home is so beautiful!

[chyna]

I saw in some magazine where the homeowner planted russian sage between the rose shrubs for an easy pairing. I've also seen catmint planted between roses. I've got the russian sage with mine because I've got cats and they eat my catmint before it has a chance to get big. :rolleyes: Anyway it would fill in nicely and for the anal part of your psychi pretty easy to control. Plus they are perrenials so you don't have to replace all the time. ;)

[yarborough house]

Thanks for all the input.

Marie- yes I love my fence too. I did it all by myself- well most part. Hubby got the posts up and the cross rails then went to Iraq so the rest was up to me..painted, cut and installed over 500 pickets..making sure they were level and such. Proud that I did it but glad it is over :)

ChapterTwo- I will have to look into blackeyed susans...I always forget about those. thanks

Rubyslippers- we did plant climbing roses on each post they are just not large yet..yet is the key word. And I have lots of coneflowers that are just about ready to bloom. It is cool we only had about 5 last year but they did reseed themselves and there are more now.

Lisa- thanks.

Chyna- I'll look into the russian sage- I do have lavender planted and it is nice as it keeps its color in the winter too. My garden is pretty sad in the winter.

[Gigi]

A white picket fence----awwwwwwwwwwwww......... I would have so much fun with your house-

Do you have any Wisteria? That would look wonderful on your property.

[Zuzu's Garden]

At my last home in Lafayette (CO) I just kept planting what I loved and every year more "free plants" sprung up. To me, that is the essence of a cottage garden, because it fills itself in naturally. :)

The cottage-style plants that spread on their own were Lavender, Lamb's Ear, Lily-of-the-Valley, Johnny Jump Ups, Pansies, and some herbs. I mixed in plants that would bloom from early spring to the end of Fall - starting with Tulips, Daffodils, Lilacs, Bleeding Heart, Foxglove, Roses, Trumpet Vine, Hydrangea, Coneflower, Russian Sage, herbs, vegetables... and so many more that I cannot remember them all right now. I planted the taller plants at the back of the fence, and in the middle of a circular area so that I could see everything. If you plant the natural "spreaders" in between the others, they will fill in any bare spots.

Have fun!
Zuzu

[yarborough house]

Okay Zuzu- If I buy you a plane ticket would you come do my garden. You seem to be spot on with what I want.
I will keep all those plants in mind when I am shopping. I love tulips etc but by fall I am over gardening and never get around to planting any.
Sad huh?

Gigi- Wisteria is a bad word this way. It is lovely but man does it go wild and you can't stop it. My sister has it winding around trees and such..beautiful but hard to manage. I have some in my back garden. And to keep it in check I just keep winding the new stems around each other to form a trunk and make it into a small tree.
Glad you like Trisha's pic. I will tell her she will be thrilled.

[Zuzu's Garden]

Oh boy, Tammy, that would be fun! :D

My seasonal job at the State Park just ended, and I am officially retired. Now I know the true meaning of retired. Re-tired, as in tired all over again. :p I think I have been pushing myself so hard over the past three years that slowing down and resting has showed me how very tired I really am.

I am surrounded by projects to be finished in the Tiny House. Finish painting the kitchen cabinets, make curtains, move wildflowers to the foundation garden, and on and on. But, now I'm looking at projects a little differently - as something to keep me busy between naps. :p

I think you are well on your way to creating a beautiful cottage garden, Tammy. You already know what you love - just put those babies in the ground, and surround yourself in beauty!

Zuzu

[Heather]

Tammy - do you have Daisy Fleabanes down there? I just love the look of those in cottage gardens but I can't find any seeds up here. I think they would fill inbetween your plants nicely!

[yarborough house]

Heather - what are they?

[Heather]

Well, I googled them (I have a picture of them in a cottage gardening magazine):

This tall wildflower produces tiny, daisy-like flowers in great clouds in late summer into early fall. It is often mistaken for an aster, but is easier to grow and isn't plagued by fungal problems. Plants start blooming in midsummer and often continue blooming until fall. The native forms are seldom grown in the garden because they can be weedy, though they're great for naturalized areas and prairie or meadow plantings. However, many well-behaved, beautiful hybrids are available. All are beautiful when cut in big sprays and arranged in a vase.

Light:
Sun
Zones:
3-9
Plant Type:
Perennial
Plant Height:
18-30 inches tall
Plant Width:
18-24 inches wide
Landscape Uses:
Containers, Beds & Borders
Special Features:
Flowers, Cut Flowers, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Easy to Grow

[Suz]

I agree with having the roses-- I have a New Dawn Climber and a Lemon Meringue Climber--they are considered "continuous bloomers" meaning they bloom heavily in the spring and then also throughout the season in to the fall, just not as heavy. What about Clematis? They are beautiful as well. Hollyhocks always make me think of cottage gardens. Salvias would be wonderful as well--they bloom until the first freeze and they come back every year! I love what you have so far! It looks wonderful! :)

Susie

[Heather]

Good morning! I was just looking at your pictures again and thought of lavender! It's got a silvery grey foliage and you could grow it like a hedge....

Or what about creeping phlox - blooms in spring, flowers pink, white, and purple which would really pop against your house colour. It grows low - 6" - so it would "creep" inbetween your existing shrubs.

Both are perennials too.