Ah! I am flattered. I am glad that you got some inspiration. I have been inspired by many around here. Heck, I wasn't even sure I even HAD a cottage garden until I stumbled upon this place a couple years ago.
I tend to focus on those in a similar zone as me. I also Love FULL, lush, colorful gardens. Lately, I've really been digging Bellarosas and Gottagardens. Proof that it is OK to use drifts of flowers in a cottage garden. Not everything has to look so haphazard.
I get ideas from pretty much everyone around here, but the two above were the first to pop into my head.

I think all cottagers here who post have impacted me and my garden direction. Please don't anyone hesitate to post or think you have nothing to share. Don't let yourself be intimidated by beautiful gardens or knowledgable gardeners. Everyone's eye or ideas has impact....at least for me...variety is the sprice of life and we learn by new ideas and vision not only by experience. Everyone does have a valuable impact on myself, and sharing impacts all of us in some way...don't feel your garden is to small, or your skill to young to impact here. Join in..join in join it..please. The more variety the more we can all learn and spread wings.

Mary Lou and her use of the privacy screens has really influenced me! I want that kind of privacy that she creates with the neighbor friendly atmosphere it provides.

Debbie, you have made use of seating areas in your garden. It is clear that from your garden you USE it. That has inspired me to find ways in which we can get out farther into the garden.

There was someone who posted photos of trellises in front of utilities, and I think the same person had photos of blooming trees and shrubs and an arbor that mimiced the lines of their greenhouse. It blended the greenhouse into the landscape. That influenced me too. Right now I am building gardens which I hope will eventually surround a greenhouse.

Mr. Morton and his effective use of grasses and low growing plants at the front of his home inspires me to keep on working here! I want the same sort of look but with plants that survive the conditions in the South. Slowly it is coming along..slowly!

Edna, again for her enthusiasm

Kent, for finding me new ways to spend my money, lol.

Steven for the beauty he has created. Steven has non-stop energy and keeps on going. Plus I like the way he's willing to break the rules!! The anarchistic vegetable gardener strikes again!!

Tracy for her ability to try and make a house (or a mobile house!) a home.

Flowerlady for her re-use of materials.

And everyone else here for inspiring photos, plant combinations etc.

GGG

Well for me I can honestly say you have all been helpful, have all given me ideas in each of your own ways as we are all different. Everyone here has something to offer someone else and that's what great about this forum and that's is what keeps me coming back. That and to be able to get to know each and everyone of you kind people from all over the country and world for that matter.
Meghan

Everyone !! I have been accepted with my meager skills and all the support has been so inspiring. I am doing stuff I would never have tried. They are even posting my windows in the trash to treasure window thread. I hope to go to Oak Mt and do the plant swap too. I even have some oleanders to swap. You guys are ALL fantastic. caroline

I find the most inspiration from Texas Gardeners. Zone 8, the old zone 8 where Spanish moss hangs and camellias flourish in sand down near the Florida/Alabama line, does not equate to the rest of Georgia and we don't garden the way red clay gardeners do.

I found things on the TAMU sites like bulbine, Tecoma Stans and dwarf ruellia and someone from Texas was kind enough to send me starts.

Here is a link that might be useful: English-Style Gardening in Texas

The first person to give me direction when I first found this website was you, Debbie. You welcomed me with open arms. My question was regarding foxglove. You helped me so much when I was new to gardening. YouÂve shared plants with me and inspired my interest in plants I knew nothing about.

Eduarda persuaded me into my love of roses. She's influenced me to add year around interest to my garden. I've learned SO much about gardening from her.

Diana influenced me into picking my very first climbing rose, a westerland. She was the main drive behind my potager. Anyone want to know where the garden of Eden is?...it's in Diana's garden.

Rainey brought love, spirituality and beauty. I delight in her gardens and poems. I love that she's a sister in faith.

GGG, inspires me by her spirituality and her love of humanity. She taught me to loosen up and go for bold colors. Also taught me to share my garden with others.

Tracy inspires me with her lush garden and love of plants. Never have I seen so many shades of green. Her photos are spectacular. A very gifted woman. I'm now a seed-aholic and trying a hand at growing daylillies because of her :-)

Nicki influenced me to create a habitat for critters. I love her gardens, birdhouses, paintings and joy for life. I want my garden to look like hers.

Geofeffa and Patti should have been sisters :-) From them I learned strength and humor. They have taught me 'grow where your planted' and 'everything is possible'. Two very strong women I am proud to know.

Steven, I learned patience and perseverance. His hard work has turned what was a neglected yard into the cutest cottage.

Kent has me wanting chickens. Oh dear! How could I possibly with two Cocker Spaniels and a Lab/St. Bernard mix?...all three are bird dogs.

Miss Tenderheart who brought pretty pink flowers. I miss seeing her pictures.

I love the new comers, they keep my interest sparked.

I have learned from each and everyone in this forum.

Everyone who has ever posted a picture of their garden has given me inspiration. I'm a very visual person so that is precisely the type of inspiration I need.

And of course all of you rose enablers got me to get my first (Frau Karl Drushki), then second(Vielchenblau), then third(pink grocery store mini) rose.

I come here every day to be inspired by all of you.

Hard to pick out anyone in particular. Although a couple of years ago Haziemoon said she was using a picture of my garden as her screensaver. That made me feel I was going in the right direction. Many, many posters continue to give me ideas ALL THE TIME.
A big thank-you to everybody.

Mr. Morton,

Thanks for the compliment! I'm flattered. I get inspiration from you and everyone else on the forum. I've received several emails from forum members asking me gardening questions and sending me compliments. I really enjoy sharing what I know. I'm no expert, trust me! I've killed my fair share of plants - can anyone say hybrid tea roses?? Its just great to know that we all share a love of gardening!

So glad many of you mentioned that "everyone" has something to add or bring up to our attention. It happens many times that people feel that they can get a closed community going because they "know" one another from posting on the same forums. While that may be true, the forums for everyone after all; and everyone, I find, has something to valuable contribute.

Which fellow cottager? I can't think of a single person who has not given me direction or a new perspective at one time or another, whether with a description or photo or story or question or answer. Everyone has been so generous with their thoughts and advice on gardening and on a personal level as well. The support I've received here is just incredible.

The beauty of your gardens is exceeded only by the beauty of your hearts. Thank you one and all.

I couldn't agree more! Everyone here is always so giving, whether it be suggestions, ideas, pictures, whatever. It is so inspiring especially on the "down" days.

When I need help or support, someone always comes to my aid. I can only hope that I been able to do the same for others.

I am honored to be a small part of such a great community.
Marylu

Of course there is a group of people on this forum I've come to know over the course of several years. You are all dear to me and have given me inspiration both in and out of the garden. But I also love seeing new people come in, both seasoned folks and the newbies. So many great questions get asked and such great advice given here. Always with kindness. It's nice to come to a forum and be able to talk gardens with people who share this enthusiasm. I have a wonderful circle of friends mind you, but to most of them discussing gardening rates right up there with talking about paying bills.

Group hug.

I get a lot of encouragement for many of you, but with my limited space, I just enjoy what you have in your gardens, rather than try to implement in mine. However, when I was planning my relandscaping project in 2005, I think it was Dawn whose pathways and roses gave me inspiration.

I agree wholeheartedly with Steven about the kindness on this forum.

Anne

When I first came to Garden Web, I was a bit apprehensive as I had heard about how snobbish, and unkind the forums were. Some forums are snobbish and unkind, but not this forum. This is a wonderful place to visit everyday. Feeling blue, or at a loss as what to do in gardens, just visit here and you will be inspired by the many topics of conversations, as well as by the lovely photos of each flower and garden. I feel honored to be part of this gardening family.

"One of the most delightful things about gardening is the freemasonry it gives with other gardeners, and the interest and pleasure all gardeners get by visiting other people's gardens.

We all have a lot to learn and in every new garden there is a chance of finding inspiration - new flowers, different arrangement or fresh treatment for old subjects.

Even if it is a garden you know by heart there are twelve months in the year and every month means a different garden, and the discovery of things unexpected all the rest of the year.

- Margery Fish, We Made a Garden, 1956

Thank you all for sharing your hopes, dreams, and inspiration. I have learned from so many of you, and am even enjoying some plants either grown from seed or cuttings, or little plants, from some of your gardens in my own.

FlowerLady

I guess I'm the newbie to this forum, I'm also a newbie to the computer world, I still have to call my DH on occasion. Help I've hit the wrong key again, quick what do I do. I'm hoping you can still teach this old dog a few tricks. Time will tell.
I find this forum to be full of wonderful people, lovely gardens and there is always someone here that can solve your problems. I have already picked up some great ideas of what I need to do to make my garden more of a cottage garden. I can't pick out one person, you all inspire me. :o)

A......

I crave the photos, a photo really is worth a thousand words. I've been inspired by Mr. Morton, Bellarosa, libbyshome, Pat Tea, Edna, ggg, and others. Thanks for all the nice pictures!

Over the course of the years in which I have participated in this forum, it's not so much the question of inspiration, it's the question of the friendship. So many of you here have become friends, supporting me when I'm down, inspiring me when I'm stuck, making me laugh until the tears roll down from my eyes, giving me tips for decorating, reading, listening to music, to films, sharing seeds with me, sending me cards at Christmas time and birthdays, what more can I say? You are closer to me than most of my family and I'm really blessed that one day my fingers typed www.gardenweb.com/forums and I was stuck here forever with you all :-)

Eduarda

Honestly, everyone who takes a moment to post has inspired or helped me. Your posts have challenged me, informed me and most of all, encouraged me.

My small garden, would never be what it is today without everyone's input, both literally and figuratively!

Whether you cultivate acres of flowers or a single pot of geraniums on your porch, you are a gardener and the group that meets here, is very special to me.

Marilyn

Last year I was a newbie.I had bought a house and my yards were almost bare from the previous owners,I have learned to create a cottage garden,I learned to ws.I learned to grow herbs,I even made salsa last summer.I am now hunting daylilies and I have started a woodland garden.I have a red bed planned if spring ever comes and stays.lol I come here every day,sometimes staying for hrs.learning from you all.I was given seeds.I download so many pictures and go back time and time again.I probably worry gottagarden to death asking what is that,and how long is that.I love reading steveingens progress,I love Mrmortons gardens.I am now hunting his cat mint.I am blessed to be able to come here and ask,answer,laugh,cry,be very amused at times.I too think of all of you as my garden friends.My family knows alot of you by name now and what you have planted or are planning.If someone here is sick or hurt,I pray for them,I oggle Matylu's pictures.I want a potager.I even want chickens but can't have them here.I have considered moving because I can't have a purple shed. but I am getting purple chairs.lol Everyone here is my inspiration.
moonphase

I came over here not long ago after being on That Home Site forums for a few years. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. I've been totally inspired by all the creative gardens, structures, accents, paths, etc. I also find the knowledge here to be excellent and shared willingly. This is a great community and I enjoy reading about gardens in zones/climates that are very different from my own. So, I have to say that everyone is helpful.

Cameron