Contemporary cottage garden style - the power of the '70/30' rule...

[@topaz3468]

I'm in a subtropical region in the US, and have a cottage garden in the front yard. Since the cottage garden area doesn't have shade, I grow hot weather vine shrubs and plants that bloom out in the color of orange and yellow. The good thing about this is that it blooms continuously Sept thru December giving a fall harvest show, and in the spring (April thru June). For contrast in color, I use Texas sage that blooms out in a lavender color. It's definitely not textbook design, but it works for my harsh climate. 😊 Love this channel btw...thank you for traveling to show us different ideas!!

[@RealBradMiller]

Ooh, I like that color scheme! I'm doing purple(huge black lace elderberry carrying most of the work, but some beautyberry providing purple most of the year, too) , white flowers, light greens and yellow, with touches of light blue, orange, and pinks. It pairs well my pale yellow house, and blue-grey porch, I think!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That sounds gorgeous.

[@mellieunicornz6436]

Photos pls!!

[@meredith3588]

What a beautiful garden! Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@MyFocusVaries]

I love the soft palette and the natural path. Thanks for the information.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I love them too. thank you.

[@wildberrygarden]

Great video, interesting what Tim said about staggering of plants. This is something I struggle with. It can sometimes be hard to knit plants together, especially when I plant them and completely misjudge the size they will grow to!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Me, too. Somehow it's much harder to plant good groups of plants than it seems. I still find myself dotting the odd plant around here and there!

[@sharonwebb945]

I loved the softness and billowy style the grasses added and his colour scheme is restful.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree.

[@marlenetunbridgewells2597]

Alexandra, I LOVE your ‘no chit-chat’, informative interviews, I learn something every time. Thank you! This garden was a particular treat as well. More videos please 🙂

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sharonwebb945]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the colour of achillea pineapple mango! Hope I can find it in Sth Australia.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Well, as this garden is in South Australia, I'd say you have a pretty good chance! But I checked and it's available in the UK and the US as well so obviously quite a well known variety.

[@sharonwebb945]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden so the garden isn’t in Melbourne?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

@@sharonwebb945 Sorry, that was misleading - I meant 'southern Australia' not South Australia! It's about an hour out of Melbourne in the Macedon mountain range, so it's not as warm as Melbourne.

[@Flower_hoarder]

BEAUTIFUL‼️

[@KarinLowrie-vi9cv]

I noticed the wind playing with the plants. How relaxing to watch. That is a feel I would love in my garden.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

The wind is always a worry when we're talking but it's so lovely if I'm just filming the plants, I agree.

[@potwell1936]

A great exercise in colour theory and having a tight planting design. The rhythm and repetition was lovely to lead the eye over the planting.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree, and very pretty

[@flowerfairy1950]

What a gorgeous house and garden 🧡

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It really is!

[@andreaball8114]

In response to another (silly, whiney) commenter, as a new gardener, I really like the names on the screen. It's frustrating to see something that intrigues you but not know what it's called. I keep a list and research them when I have time in order to become familiar with them. So thank you for the time you take to do that editing. Especially with all these scientific names in the lovely accents. Yours from Seattle--

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much. I think it helps, as otherwise people write in, and it's harder to find the right name when it's something I filmed ages ago.

[@gardentours]

"Grow them in blocks in groups of three to seven on repeat" helped me to decide how to grow the 15 bulbs of liatris that I bought yesterday 😉

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good to hear!

[@mellieunicornz6436]

Pardon, but does he mean plant 3 of the same kind of plant, then next to that, a group of 7 of the same plant, then 3 of the same plant, then 7 again and repeat this pattern?

[@mellieunicornz6436]

Or does he mean the shape of 3 and 7 as on a clock??

[@JaneDoeDoeDeeOhDoe]

Thank you for these great ideas, Alexandra, and for such a wonderful start to my weekend!

[@francineh.7825]

This garden is beautiful!!

[@jeanniemeagher1774]

Thank you!!! It's nearly March and we're ready to plant for summer here in California. I want a drought tolerant, partial shade Cottage garden. You have shared perfect ideas for me to use. I love the soft palette of colors near the Victorian. Lots of helpful thoughts. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Good afternoon Alexander, what a most pleasant relaxing garden talk. I think most people are inclined to plant too many flowers for their cottage effect gardens. I like the small petite flowers, you can plant them in a pot, here I think clay would be best, and you can raise the pot on a brick or two if the grasses grew too tall. I have looked at the cottage garden flowers and you can easily get carried away and go overboard. They still look pretty. I also feel we must not spend too much time in a cottage garden other than to look and enjoy. So loved the wooden border structure, it looks study enough to sit down with a cup of tea and rest. Do take care.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, and take care you, too!

[@barbarahenn-pander5872]

I particularly enjoyed the incredible hand drawn plan for the garden. An artistry of its own and unspeakably beautiful!! Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It is beautiful. Tim says he now has too much work to do hand-drawn plans, so his early clients were lucky.

[@juliabinford6500]

The color palette was just beautiful. Gorgeous grasses mixed in. Another helpful interview:)

[@dawndawn6946]

Lovely! This is my style! Thank you for helping me to solidify it in my mind.💗

[@sharonwebb945]

Lovely to see Tim , a fellow Australian on your channel ! Where did you shoot this video?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Macedon, not far from Melbourne. I'm back in the UK now though.

[@1tuinman]

A very well put together design! And you asked all the right questions Alexandra !

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@linusnepe3874]

Wonderful garden and a very handsome gardener/ owner! ;-).

[@heatherw.2751]

I always love your videos where you take us into these mature, magnificent gardens!! But while they inspire me, they also intimidate. My garden is in its infancy and I sometimes feel like I’ll never get there. It sure is nice to see what others have achieved!

[@penelopehammerton2907]

Hello, my garden is in its infancy too. I rebuilt it entirely during lockdown. Keep going, you will get there. Hope you have a great gardening year 👍🧑‍🌾

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

This garden is actually only one year old, but it has had the benefit of a professional garden designer, so don't compare yours! And I hope you enjoy the journey of 'getting there'.

[@heatherw.2751]

@@penelopehammerton2907 Thank you for the words of encouragement! I was out “piddling” in my garden this afternoon and it felt great!

[@heatherw.2751]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Thanks for the kind words! I was able to get out and do some weeding and transplanting in the garden today and it felt wonderful! I don’t mean to be a negative Nancy, I love all your videos! Thanks for sharing such inspirational gardens with us!! ❤️

[@mellieunicornz6436]

❤

[@LifeHomeandGardenwithAnaRica]

Gorgeous contemporary cottage garden. Thanks for inspiring us

[@cindym6065]

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful garden and the thought process and plans of how to create it. I wish I could see pictures of the garden during winter. When the perennials and grasses turn brown, that is when home owners associations decide you can't have a cottage garden in front of your home. It's sad that HOAs don't see the value and charm cottage gardens bring to a neighborhood.

[@zoewhite7705]

I am so glad we don’t have HOAs here. I would be raging if anyone told me what I could and couldn’t grow in my own garden! I get the intention behind it, but… Your home is your castle. And if you’re not allowed perennials that die down, that surely doesn’t just rule out cottage gardens but also any other herbaceous border??? Are you only allowed evergreen shrubs then???

[@cindym6065]

They want a simple, formal landscape. I had to remove three flowerbeds because they thought perennials were weeds. I went to city hall about that. I agree with you, I should be able to have the garden I love.

[@zoewhite7705]

@@cindym6065 I really feel for you. I suppose the difference here (UK) is that our gardens tend to have fences or walls around them so they are private. And our front gardens are pretty small anyway, our main garden where we’d have herbaceous borders etc is at the back. You have these beautiful streets with huge open front gardens so I can see why people are invested in making sure everybody keeps it nice… but I imagine that can be taken too far sometimes.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Interesting debate about HOAs particularly in view of the general move towards more relaxed, wildlife friendly gardening around the world. It must be difficult to find a consensus for a neighbourhood, when different homeowners have different tastes and lifestyles.

[@maryanna6302]

Great tips especially re choosing plants that thrive in micro climate areas. One of my garden goals is to convert a section of lawn to cottage garden style 💚

[@jaqmackie]

Thank you for this tour. Love Tim’s garden but also so good to do in-depth talk about plantings.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

Do Australians use echinacea? It is so common in the U.S. and seems like the Australian climate would be perfect for it.

[@ThreeRunHomer]

Kangaroos are allergic to coneflowers.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Now that you mention it, I can't remember seeing any in Australian gardens, but that doesn't mean there aren't any.

[@diannemckenzie977]

I’m looking for echinacea pallida for our Melbourne (Australia) garden. As you say, it should do well. Btw this video was great. Thank you!

[@threeriversforge1997]

Beautiful design, for sure. I couldn't agree more with the concept of limiting your plants as I've seen so many gardens that try to be Noah's Ark with two of everything sold in the world's garden centers. It's frustratingly messy, imo, and there's no joy in it for me. A few plants that are repeated throughout, that you can really get to know, makes the garden space enjoyable in a tranquil way. It shows intent and cultivation both in the garden and the gardener. I know people struggle with this idea because I'm always looking for yet something else to add to my own landscape. There are so many intriguing plants, but we have to remain stalwart in the face of temptation! Thankfully, I made it rather easy on myself by only using plants that are native to my area. I've found the tremendous increase in wildlife activity is well worth my foregoing the use of pretty baubles I might see in a catalogue. I'm tempted, true, but I truly believe that we've done tremendous damage to our local ecosystem through the planting of non-natives and it feels good to try and right the ship in what little way I can.

[@sweetpeasandyarrowaranchdi8327]

Loved this! I watched it x3😂❤

[@jaycorwin1625]

I really enjoy your channel, Alexandra. Even if it's not always "learn how to do this or that" it is a pleasure to see what people can do with their spaces and how beautiful they are.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@fampirella]

This color palette is amazing, so soothing. If I only could limit myself to a few colors and a reasonable number of plants... But I want them all!

[@HellCatt0770]

This was packed with inspiration for my plans. I live in Cornwall UK and most of these plants are so safe they come on their own!

[@tonihartung2221]

Beautiful. I have no restraint when using too many plants. It is a good lesson in repetition and restraint.

[@darrisnelson5223]

I have a tiny, but very challenging garden. My garden is broken up into several spaces… Basically anywhere I can shove plants! Because of herds of deer and gophers, my garden is more of a “test“ site. I had very traditional cottage gardens when I had a 5 1/2 acre property of mixed Woodland and Meadows. I separated my gardens into perennial, fern/shade, cottage and Woodland. 21 years of gardening and it was stunning! Now I am coastal zone 10a. Nearly everything before I planned because if the gophers don’t eat the roots, they shove the soil around enough that the plants are starved for water and nutrients. I am blessed with snakes and lizards and my old Siamese cat who loves to hunt, but it’s not enough to wipe out those darn gophers! We have deer that spend an inordinate amount of time in my garden, even though we are surrounded by thousands of acres of hills and open space. They fawns eat many plants because they’re testing what tastes good. I plant in two different coreopsis-a gift from a neighbor. One colorful coreopsis was eaten overnight as if someone had taken hedge, trimmers and locked off every single blossom, and there were several. The other, I believe less of a hybrid and plain yellow, they left untouched. That is for now because you never know.😆 As much as I would love a traditional English garden again I do what I can. Often I will move plants or give them away because they’re either because they’re eaten to the ground or they don’t do well with my scattered exposure. I love the cottage garden style because it’s free-flowing, unfussy and usually filled with pollinators. thank you for showing us beautiful gardens in a very straightforward and informative way. I love England and hope to return someday soon.❤

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, and that does sound challenging!

[@consuelomendez-fl5xc]

I tried pinching back my plants but they looked so sad.

[@WibblyWobbly]

Verbascum southern charm is hardy to at least -30C.

[@lorrainel2314]

Beautiful garden, thank you for the plant details 🌟

[@barbkenas5663]

Great video and info!

[@goldengirl65]

I personally like a garden with lots of different plants.

[@thembamthembu437]

Am I the only who thinks Tim looks like the actor Will Patton ?

[@sadasivan6159]

Lovely cottage garden with valuable information. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiwiopklompen]

What a stunning garden and Tim Pigrim has done an amazing job. So many helpful tips. Thanks!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@GillianRose-i7r]

thank you for the excellent video that really goes into depth about planting details. So often this is glossed over so it’s really useful to have this kind of info.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LindasFlowersandVegetablesGard]

Beautiful cottage garden, very relaxing!

[@caroltrego1640]

What is the light blue flowering plant that is sprawling in back of where you are sitting in the video? Is it a salvia?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, but I'm sorry, I didn't ask which one. I think it's Salvia Uliginosa (Bog Sage), though. V pretty.

[@fernandomendozagarcia7938]

Excellent breakdown of the 70/30 rule.

[@xochipillicruz3364]

He is so talented and handsome

[@polar199]

bloody Australians

[@cawcawnat3270]

Txu. Very interesting.

[@jesussantos9046]

Excellent advice, the 70/30 balance is key.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, I thought it was great advice

[@WoodlandT]

This garden is so beautiful and inspiring. Well done

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It really is!

[@SpanishEclectic]

One glance and I knew Alexandra wasn't in England! Beautiful garden that goes so well with the house. Great hearing his ideas. These videos with cottage, English, and other traditional style gardens that use drought tolerant plants are so helpful for those of us in dry, hot climates who still love the look. You always ask very complete questions; you're a pro! :) Here in S. California we've had crazy rain, and the weeds are going nuts. But my red nasturtiums are blooming, and the freesias are just opening. Annuals/bulbs that come up each year with little to no help are great for motivation while waiting for other plants to do their thing.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, that's lovely to hear.

[@jomassey4207]

Nice to hear a kiwi accent. Ive chosen most of the plants in my garden but i like to use contrasting colours like dwarf apricot knipfofias with dark indigo and pastel blue delphiniums. I also tried to grow achillia mollis but it was a fail. I might try again using the cold stratification. I also want to grow astrantias....no luck with seed yet. Beautiful flowers!!! Love your colour pallet. Ive got lilac and white yarrow that has reflowered all summer.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Those plantings sound gorgeous

[@jeanneh6361]

I would like a repeat of this garden in the mid to late summer.

[@margaretmichelsen766]

What a lovely garden and one to learn great things from. The 70:30 ratio of safe to experimental plants sounds like a really good tip. I tend to want all the unusual plants ( one of each) difficult to resist but garden just looks like a big mess. It requires a very disciplined mind to keep the plant choices confined.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, I thought it was an excellent tip too.

[@bobsiddoway]

I just don’t understand how weeds don’t take over. 😭

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

The owner or gardener always does some weeding but also the more plants you plant in a garden, the less room there is for weeds. Also if you grow plants that grow well in your area, then they will be healthy, so the weeds can't dominate. But there will always be some weeds in a garden, and it's up to you as to which ones you're happy to see and which ones you'd prefer to pull out. Attitudes to weeds have changed a lot in the last few years.

[@janelleleclair3216]

Thank you for this video! Excellent. And some plants I can actually use that are cold hardy for Minnesota!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you and glad to hear it.

[@bluesky7226]

Alexandria, you must be back in Victoria. Lovely garden.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I was, although back in England by the time I'd finished editing!

[@susanlindsay1071]

Thank you

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You're welcome

[@LouciferFlump]

That garden was charming. Loved the old oak as well! I couldn’t believe how well the garden “matched” the house! It looked great!!! 👌🏻 Do you know if any of the plants featured demand poor/light soil? Can any tolerate clay? I try to do the cottagey vibe, but many flowers fail on my heavy clay, even though I’ve been improving it for years and it’s now quite loamy in places. I have no probs with shrubs and roses, however! I would love to try that Lambs Ears/Stachys. Do you know what conditions it likes..?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Lamb's ears is a very resilient plant, worth a try, I think. I grow it and have quite clay-ey soil. I also find the salvias do well and I think nepeta is pretty much indestructible.

[@LouciferFlump]

@@TheMiddlesizedGardenI will try it. Salvias sadly come to my garden to die 🥴but nepeta is ok! Thanks.

[@Laura-rx9mp]

Thank you Alexanda!!! gosh your skin is so beautiful (share tips) ha

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Oh thank you! - I don't think I have any tips, except that I've always tried to stay out of the sun. But it's very kind of you to say so.

[@barbaracole4314]

I need plants that can handle extreme summer heat, it's gets 105 plus for days on end almost guaranteed thru the summer months up here in far northern CA.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You may find this video interesting - it's about adapting cottage garden style to a drier, hotter Australian type climate, which will probably be closer to yours. kzbin.info/www/bejne/movSkoOPbZubpLs

[@nicolejordan5278]

Love this! What recommendations do you have for plants that are safe and those that are toxic for dogs, if they chew on them?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

This is what I've done for puppy-proofing the garden:kzbin.info/www/bejne/amjKo2mHe76crrM

[@lesliekendall5668]

So what does a person do if they've already planted one here, one there, one......? I basically put in one of whatever while all pertaining to the 3 colors I wanted.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm rather in the same situation myself - although I've heard the block planting advice over and over again, I still put one plant here and one there. Spring is a good time to move plants. Or you can just decide that one plant at a time is your way of doing it.

[@lesliekendall5668]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden My "theory" was to buy one and either capture the seeds or propagate it by cuttings but I just haven't had any luck in that department. But I've spent ENOUGH money on plants and trees (of which I would say a good 20% that don't survive anyway) and am DETERMINED to buy just seeds now....and if they don't germinate and thrive then my garden will just have to be 80% iris. 😆. (I AM prone to exaggeration but propagation can be frustrating).

[@debs-more-plants]

Another great video and discussion! Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@deliasolomon6782]

Inspirational.... 💐

[@glgardener4972]

Very inviting garden.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It is!

[@sofielys5452]

So beautiful

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much

[@mariemcgrath8681]

Beautiful garden, great pallet of softness.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It is!

[@geraldinefields1730]

Thank you.

[@Jen-zk9se]

Beautiful ❤

[@monikamona5271]

Wonderful

[@afrocraft1]

6:27 Is he referring to "erigeron," as in fleabane?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes Mexican fleabane, seaside daisy etc are all terms for erigeron

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

What is the small tree in front of the cottage?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Pyrus salicifolia

[@everythingmatters6308]

Do you want me to listen to the guy or read all the text? I can't do both at once.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Some people like plant names up on the screen, but I understand it can be confusing. Thank you for your feedback.

[@GillianRose-i7r]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden I like plant names thank you. Really helpful.