The Plants

Some would say I am a 'cottage' gardener… to me it feels more like a complete jumble of plants, if I like it, then I get it!
Admittedly they are usually of the cottage variety, since I am looking for romance and magic… And as it happens, 'cottage' gardens are usually highly romantic.

I would say I'm a mix of cottage and perennial - Piet Oudolf. I like grasses which sway, meadows, pretty, dainty little flowers. I am not into blousy, fluorescent, in-yer-face plants like impatiens, marigolds or pelargoniums… Indeed, I despise these plants with a passion! They make me shudder when I see or rather smell them (pelargoniums, that is! They bring back memories of science labs in school, where they were always grown for chlorophyll tests and the smell is awful)

Don't worry, I would not hold it against you if happen to like these plants… Just they will never make it into my garden!

My must haves:

Verbena Bonariensis and Hastata
A range of grasses such as Pheasant’s Grass and Pheasant’s tail grass
Dierama (Angel's Fishing rod)
Clematis (Marjorie is my absolute favourite)
Jasmine
Honeysuckle
Sweet Pea
Gaura
Wild Field Poppy
Scabious
Foxglove

Plants I have found insects love:

Cosmos
Sea Holly
Aster
Buddleja
Astrantia
Achillea
Foxglove
Verbena (Bonariensis and Hastata)
Clover (white and chocolate)
Pyracantha
Geranium
Campanula
Poppies
Scabious
Sedum
Strawberry
Forget-me-not
Fleabane

Self seeded grass after rain


Allium 'Purple Sensation'


Butterfly and Bee gorge on Sea Holly


English Bluebell - Quintessentially English!


Hoverfly on Cosmos


Bees on Sedum


Bees on white Clover