The Modern Cottage Garden: A Fresh Approach to a Classic Style

by Greg Loades

Overview

“An inspirational book, with encouraging words and down-to-earth advice for achieving a year-round beautiful garden.” —Michael Marriott, chief rosarian at David Austin Roses

In this practical and inspirational guide, Greg Loades presents a new style of planting: a fusion between classic cottage style and the new perennial movement. Using real gardens as examples, The Modern Cottage Garden teaches gardeners how to combine the best of both styles—big, colorful blooms and striking grasses and native plants—into one beautiful space that requires little maintenance and has a long season of interest. Fresh planting ideas for containers, small gardens, and diverse climates present an exciting style that can shine anywhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781604699081
Publisher:	Timber Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/15/2020
Pages:	228
Sales rank:	172,732
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Greg Loadesis editor of The Alpine Gardener and writes frequently about gardens and gardening for magazines such as Kew, LandScape, and Garden News. His writing has also appeared in many popular publications, including BBC Gardeners’ World magazine, where he was gardening editor, and the luxury garden publication The English Garden, where he was deputy editor. He served his apprenticeship in the rose industry in the UK. Today Greg lives in Hull with his wife and son and has a small backyard terraced house garden packed with perennials, grasses, and, of course, roses! Follow his gardening life on Instagram: @hull_urban_gardener.

Table of Contents

Preface: What Is the Modern Cottage Garden? 9

Roots 15

The Traditional Cottage Garden 17

The New Perennial Garden 31

How to Create a Modern Cottage Garden 43

Planting a Gardener's Garden 46

In Small Spaces 65

In Containers 83

A Year in the Modern Cottage Garden: Growing and Looking After the Garden Season by Season 115

Spring 119

Summer 133

Autumn 157

Winter 171

Fifty Essential Plants: A to 2 185

Resources 214

Acknowledgements 215

Photography Credits 217

Index 218

Editorial Reviews

06/15/2020

Loades, editor of The Alpine Gardener, inspires with this delightful exploration of the process of creating a “modern cottage garden.” After explaining how he defines this term, as a combination of the traditional English cottage garden and the more naturalistic “New Perennial Movement,” Loades dispenses extensive instructions on assembling attractive arrays of plants for backyards as well as smaller spaces, such as a “selection of mixed containers” on a patio. He then goes through the seasons, telling readers what to expect at every stage, such as that the “cottage garden’s star performers... have a habit of peaking in early summer.” He wraps up with a list of 50 essential plants (including dainty cyclamen coum and the salvia Hot Lips, which “starts flowering in summer and continues through until the first frost”). Gorgeous, full-page color photos of gardens designed using Loades’s approach will propel readers to the nearest plant nursery. Wry aphorisms (“It’s not just death and taxes that are inevitable. A lot of frustrated gardeners would add slugs to this saying too”) charmingly punctuate the how-to. Herbophiles will find it impossible not to get drawn into Loades’s blossoming world. (July)

Publishers Weekly

Greg’s enthusiasm for plants and for this unbridled gardening approach is clear. The result is encouragement for those new to the style and reassurance to embolden the spirit of those already convinced of its merits.” —Chris Beardshaw, garden designer and broadcaster
 
“An inspirational book, with encouraging words and down-to earth advice for achieving a year-round beautiful garden.” —Michael Marriott, chief rosarian at David Austin Roses

“Gorgeous, full-page color photos of gardens designed using Loades’s approach will propel readers to the nearest plant nursery. Herbophiles will find it impossible not to get drawn into Loades’s blossoming world.” —Publisher’s Weekly

“Loades writes in a lively and enthusiastic style, using many a fetching simile to illustrate a point. This is a practical book, well-founded in personal experience, and will empower its readers to indulge their passions and experiment, no matter how limited a space they have at their disposal.” —Gardens Illustrated

“With Loades’ guidance, avid and beginning gardeners will feel comfortable designing and choosing the plant heroes of their cottage garden.” —Booklist

“Greg Loades reveals the secret technique that opens up a world of nostalgia for gardeners with small spaces.” —The Telegraph

“Well written and beautifully illustrated, this one is highly recommended.” —Dirt Therapy

“In The Modern Cottage Garden, different needs and desires come together to make a modern cottage or cottage-style garden truly special.” —English Home

“A practical and inspirational guide to a new style of planting.” —Country Homes & Interiors

“What stands out in this book is practical advice mixed with an experienced appraisal of the attributes of selected perennial plants.” —The Press-Enterprise

“An inspiring and imaginative guide.” —The Daily Mail

From the Publisher

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