My Cottage Garden:

My cottage garden is — a patchwork of petals, produce and peaceful chaos.
What started as a teaching garden for my kids has grown into a heartfelt way of life. At canadian-gardening.ca I grow fruits and vegetables among flowers and herbs, sharing the harvest with birds, pollinators and the odd squirrel who thinks he owns the place. Cottage gardening to me isn't about perfection — it's about abundance, curiosity and letting nature participate. If you've ever felt joy watching bees nap on sunflowers or harvesting strawberries next to a blooming rose, you might already be a cottage gardener too.

The interesting part to my garden style is that I didn't know I had one.
First I planted what the kids like to eat and planting flowers and then I looked around many years later and I go "what style of garden do I have?" Answer: "One that makes me happy! The rest doesn't matter".
Sometimes the wildlife shares with me and that's still enough to feed my family and some of my neighbours. I feel so blessed to have a garden and be able to share my experience with you!

🌿 What's Your Garden Personality?

Are you a Romantic Cottage Gardener, a Practical Grower, or a Wildflower Dreamer? Discover your unique gardening style — and get ideas that feel *just right* for your space.

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Cottage Garden Starter Checklist

Full sun preferred, but cottage charm can grow anywhere.

Add compost or organic matter for loose, fertile soil.

Use perennials, herbs, veggetables and a few self-seeders.

Plant lavender, borage, cosmos, yarrow, etc.

Tall in back (hollyhocks), edges in front (thyme).

Mix foliage types, bloom shapes and colours.

Let plants mingle, self-seed, soften edges.

Use trellises, arbors, chairs, or upcycled items.

Tuck strawberries, lettuces and kale among blooms.

Include feeders, baths and sheltered corners.

Use signs, stepping stones, garden art — make it yours.

Cottage Garden Maintenance Checklist

Season	Tasks
Spring	Clear debris, divide perennials, sow hardy annuals, mulch.
Summer	Deadhead blooms, water in dry spells, harvest edibles.
🍂 Fall	Let some plants go to seed, plant spring bulbs, light tidy-up.
Winter	Leave seed heads, enjoy the birds, plan next year.

Garden Style Comparison

Feature	Formal Garden	Cottage Garden	Rock Garden	Xeriscape Garden
Design Style	Symmetrical, geometric, planned	Romantic, informal, abundant	Naturalistic, rugged, low-profile	Minimalist, drought-tolerant
Planting Style	Structured rows, often clipped hedges	Layered, self-seeding, colorful mix	Low-growing alpines and succulents	Water-wise natives and perennials
Maintenance	High	Moderate to high	Low to moderate	Very low
Common Plants	Boxwood, roses, topiary	Foxgloves, cosmos, herbs	Sedum, thyme, conifers	Lavender, sage, yucca
Hardscaping	Gravel paths, fountains	Winding paths, arbors, trellises	Stones, gravel, dry-stacked walls	Gravel mulch, stone paths
Water Needs	Medium to high	Medium to high	Low	Very low
Wildlife Friendly	Rarely	Very	Somewhat	Yes, if using native plants
Best For	Front entrances, estate settings	Backyards, artistic or relaxed homes	Slopes, dry corners, rocky areas	Hot, dry climates or water restrictions
Visual Aesthetic	Tidy, elegant, controlled	Whimsical, lush, layered	Textured, minimalist, earthy	Simple, open, adapted
Personality Match	Type-A with clippers (secateurs)	Romantic chaos in bloom	Realist who respects rocks	Low-key conservationist

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