When you think of cottage garden flowers, what do you think of? Old fashioned roses, blowy peonies, perhaps pansies? I think of cottage gardening style as a loose arrangement of my favorite flowers, with a preponderence of old-fashioned favorites.
I’m not a good garden designer. I plunk whatever strikes my fancy into the ground, then shoehorn more plants in whenever I can. The paths I planned through the flower garden are uneven and a bit odd, but that sort of reflects their designer, I think: a bit odd.
Here in front of the garden shed is what I call my cottage garden. I planted marigolds in the window boxes because as soon at the hot, dry weather strikes, those shallow boxes are tough to keep watered and marigolds are the toughest plants I know. In front of the shed, Hubby put in a little garden border bed for me.
I have Sweet Woodruff, a gift from my friends Eni and her late husband AJ, growing at the far left. It’s blooming now with tiny white flowers. I have some gladiolus bulbs there too, and newly planted zinnia seeds springing up through the tangle. But mostly it’s my snapdragons that I love.
I grew all of these snapdragons from seed. It is a mixed package of the tall types. I love snapdragons. My childhood neighbor, Mr. Hoffman, grew them, and he taught me how to “snap” the flower heads like a Chinese dragon snout. It’s another plant I grow that reminds me of someone. I love looking at a plant, a flower and thinking about someone I loved who is gone. The sweet woodruff and mint in the garden reminds me of my friend AJ; the snapdragons and mint, Mr. Hoffman; the new kerria Japonica and coral bells; my mom. My snapdragons also act like perennials here in Virginia, another reason to love them!
Do you like snapdragons, too?
Cottage garden (sort of) by my garden shed |
I love snapdragons, too. I didn’t plant any this year. I miss them. Yours are beautiful.
Hi. I came across your site and wanted to share with you that I also love snapdragons. Last summer was the first time I planted them and a few came back this year. They are so delicate yet sturdy. SAV
Love snapdragons. I still have to make the jaws snap!