Cottage Gardens
Cottage gardens originated in 17th and 18th century England, as practical and productive gardens around cottages in the English country.
Plantings were a diverse mixture of colors and textures. Be sure cottage gardens today are more diverse, but tend to share characteristics with the original cottage gardens.
- Plantings are a mixture of useful and ornamental plantings.
- Abundance is the main criteria, with densely planted beds of colorful annuals, herbaceous perennials and shrubs.
- The spaces are generally small in scale, with a focus on curving lines.
- Plants are left to ramble and self-seed. Hard surfaces are kept to a minimum and are generally made from natural materials.
- Colors generally harmonize, although flower colors are often in contrasting shades. - Garden accessories are rustic, in keeping with the nostalgic cottage style.
The features such as weather vanes, arches, gazebos and sundials that were often seen in the 18th century are appropriate in modern cottage gardens.
Natural Gardens Natural gardens attempt to imitate what occurs in nature; In Europe these are sometimes called woodland gardens; Australian bush gardens or rainforest gardens could also be considered natural gardens. The main characteristic is the use of Australian bush plants in a 'bush' style setting, i.e. an attempt is made to reproduce the bush in a garden setting.
- Colors are often subdued and in harmony.
- Hard surfaces and accessories are made from natural materials.
- Lines and forms are natural and generally uncontrolled.
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