canterbury bells

I find beauty in imperfections; I like things that tell a story, old barns, linens…and I like to share. Blogging is the perfect way to share the excitement of the ~ best ~ flea market, tag sale, decorating idea, series of photographs, or farm story ever. I am loving having a place to express so much of my creativity, share my love of animals, our little cottage farm, and writings. The post previous to this was my 100th; I can’t believe it…I expect the warm fuzzies I get every time I read a comment left by lovely readers will continue for the next hundred; I hope my exuberance,delight, and appreciation for each comment will continue well into the 1000s of posts. Each comment, or e-mail ~ to me ~ is an act of kindness, a reassurance to the ~ a once reluctant blogger.

One of my favorite things is a beautifully disheveled cottage garden, not a perfectly manicured garden,… a running a muck with color and variety…herbs, flowers, and veggies all growing together in a wonderful, colorful mass kind of garden. A cozy, peaceful, pretty as a picture, place to exhale a sigh of relief or relaxation kind of garden. Some day, I will visit the cottage gardens in Devon, Herefordshire, Norfolk, the Cotswalds,and perhaps Brittany, alas for the time being; I will content myself with my cottage gardens. Here I plant roses ’round the fences, raspberries by the gates, bushes and bushes of hydrangeas; where the sleepy dogs can lie.

Down my quiet narrow lane; I will line my walk with hosta, and marigolds, with babies breath…and Coralbells. I will drape my porch in Wisteria, the front garden, packed with flowers of all sorts, daisies, foxglove, peony, cosmos, snapdragon, pansy, bachelor’s button, columbine, bleeding heart, and hollyhock, oh and bell flowers with their lovely lavender hue.

Perhaps, just perhaps, I should put the seed catalogs down. I just wanted to order grapes!

a gaggle of garden goodies:

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Be well,
Jess

Cottage type gardening seems almost accidental and somewhat carefree; none exactly alike. This is why I love them! Each cottage garden is as different as the people who create them! My vegetable garden is sprinkled with flowers,cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, daisies…hummingbirds,bees, and butterflies.
I love the way a cottage garden beckons a closer look…behind the picket fence that captured the old-fashioned charm.

Creating a garden that encourages visits from tiny workers is a priority. Every garden needs pollinators and bees and butterflies are among the best…cottage type gardens are extremely important for honey bees and bumblebees(and vice versa)because of the wide variety of flowers they provide. Bees need flowers for sustenance, and flowers need bees for pollination…stings, you ask? No worries…most bees are gentle creatures that are simply in search of food and water for themselves and their young; just don’t wear perfume-y scents lest they think you are a big flower asking for pollination.

My largest garden here at the farm is located on the edge of the woods with a secluded(think briers and vines)pond nestled there,offering birds, butterflies and other creatures protection and shelter – a big plus! Because of the mysterious decimation they are going through, I am even more concerned with having flowers in my garden to draw them in.

Here are some plants in my cottage garden:
Roses, old-fashioned and rambling; delphiniums,Gladiola- if you plant these amongst other tall plants you might not have to stake them,Peonies – the more the better..one of my favorites(ants be darned),Iris – I have many varieties;flower in the spring and so always a treat.
Dianthus,smell so sweet. Geraniums fill my antique wheel barrow,and herbs, herbs, herbs. Cosmos – has a very long flowering period, their feathery foliage a big plus! Canterbury bells with tall blue pink or white flowers, and of course sunflowers, I watch the birds feast on the seeds.Climbing beans on a tee pee like structure for an architectural interest…I could go on, but you get the picture.

Do you have a cottage garden? What do you plant?