The Cottage Garden Up Close

Spring is a fun, rewarding time in the Cottage Garden. Perennials are starting to bloom, and we're adding plantings for color throughout the summer. Here are some of the details as to what is happening now (click on images for a closer look):

The white climbing rose is Climbing Sally Holmes, The pink one on the arbor is a combination with Climbing Dream Weaver on the left and Climbing First Prize on the right. I planted a purple Clematis Vine to weave through it for added interest. Several David Austin English Roses are in the Lawn Garden with annuals and perennials planted under and around them. For summer we planted Purple Petunias, Blue Lobelias, and Mixed Alyssum. Foxgloves add height along with Delphiniums and Larkspur. Short Dahlias and Zinnias are planted in the hot zones as they love the heat.

We planted several of the Etera Perennials last year and they are starting to bloom now. Included are the blue perennial Asters, several Veronica Speedwells, Bee Balm, Coreopsis, Shasta Daisy, Columbine and Astilbes in the Secret Shade Garden. (Aha!! Did you know the Cottage Garden has a Secret Garden?" - check it out at our Sun Valley store). We planted lots of begonias and Impatiens in the Secret Garden for Color and plan to add Coleus for its colorful leaves. A great ground covering in the shade areas are Lamium with its variegated leaves and the colorful foliage of Hostas.

Right now in May and June, the Painted Tongue (Salpiglossus) and Cup &Saucer (Canterbury Bells) are starting to show off, we planted them in March along with several Forget Me Nots. These three will stop blooming after June as the heat in the valley will stop them, but we planted Summer heat loving plants in between them, annuals and perennials such as Dahlia, Echinaceas in pink and white, Salvia, Zinnias, Asters, and Coreopsis. Interplanting flowers between blooming plants allow the garden to continue uninterrupted.

Check out our Year 'Round Color list and plant a few from each month and you will have a continuously blooming garden.