Every year like clockwork, I find myself taking out one particular tome from my book collection and hoping high hopes. Oh, to have a real English cottage garden. Or one like Tasha Tudor. I try each year with varying degrees of success, but here where the sun bakes and things get all wilty and crunchy come August, it’s a hard goal to attain. But I keep dreaming.
One of my favorite gardening books is English Cottage Gardening for American Gardeners by Margaret Hensel and forward by, perfectly enough, Tasha Tudor. The book is packed full of gorgeous photos of the greenest, rambliest, bloomiest gardens you ever saw. On both sides of the Atlantic. Tasha’s Corgi Cottage garden is featured, completed with a detailed map of the grounds, and it makes it all seem within reach.
However, this year, I’m determined to be more sensible about my cottage garden. I’m going to plant more things that are drought resistant and sun tolerating. I admit, I did have a weak moment yesterday and bought some fox glove hoping just maybe they’ll take. But I’m thinking things like lantana, zenias and other more hot loving plants will be my base annuals this year. Because there’s nothing more sad than an English cottage garden all burnt up.
Do you have big plans for your spring planting? Do you have a favorite type of garden? Is there something you wish you could grow but can’t seem to get it going?
My garden-mania has even spilled over into my latest reading, I picked up The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton yesterday and can’t wait to get lost in it. It sounds intriguing. And the Arthur Rackham illustrations inside the cover sold it for me. Love him.
Well, next for me is to clean out the vegetable bed and get a few things put in. Our frost date in Oklahoma is April 15, so we’re nearly in the clear!
Happy Tasha Tuesday~
h
Sleightholm Folk Art 
Leave a reply to Sidereal Day Cancel reply