If you scroll down and search cottage garden define you will find many, many threads stating various opinions on the definition of a cottage garden.
Here's a goodie: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cottage/msg102241052735.html

Then check out the threads posted here and look at some photos, there is a gallery too. That should give you a great idea of what a cottage garden is to the people on this forum

Welcome!

Thanks. I will paste that link to my browser to learn more!

darknox, I'd say you're definitely a cottage gardener!

GGG, that's a great thread :)

Sounds to me like you are definitely a cottage gardener. My feeling is that being a cottage gardener is as much a state of mind as the actual gardens. Our gardens reflect ourselves and the plants we can grow in our areas. Slightly disorganized, plants for birds and butterflies and a few simple hardscaping like a birdbath and seating area all add to the vision of a cottage garden. The thread posted is a very good one. The bottom line is don't let anyone dictate what you NEED in order to be a cottage gardener and have fun :) .....

Lynne

Thanks girlgroupgirl and fluffyflowers.

I did read the old thread about cottage gardening and I was just delighted... I am proud to be a cottage gardner and I see I am not alone in the whole cottage garden frame of mind.
Have a great holiday

You are a cottage gardener if you want to be. Everyones cottage gardens are stightly different. Just as our vision of what the garden should look like differs from person to person.

Sounds as if you are a cottage gardener Darknox! Really the only common characteristic of cottage gardens is that they are usually asymmetrical! And I say 'usually' because there may be English cottage gardens that are more symmetrical. However, I think that is the one link between most of our gardens.

You sound like a cottage gardener to me.
kay

Thanks for the reassurance, everyone.

I guess I was looking for acceptance. No one else I know gardens quite like I do around here. Well, that I know of.

This is the kind of gardener I am. I walk around with a plant in one hand and my spading fork in the other looking for a place to dig a hole. Am I the only one? Then again, I'm probably a lot older than the rest of you. ha This is my 59th year gardening.

You're definitely a cottage gardner. The difference IMO is a flower bed full of a bit of everthing and NOT in perfectly aligned rows (unless it's Roses or something like it) makes a cottage garden.

Used to be when I grew Periwinkles I'd plant them in perfect little rows. Everyone in town does it too, they still do. Not much of a variety when I look at flowerbeds in town.

No rows for me, unless it's a bushy border of some sort flush with flowers. :)

One thing I like about this forum is because I grow other plants which have their own forums. Like Roses, Hydrangeas, etc.

But a Cottage Gardner generally grows them too, along with a zillion other plants.

So if I have a question on a plant whic has it's own board dedicated to it, I still come here because someone always has an answer because they grow the same plant!

And people are nice here too. And patient, especially with beginners like myself. :)

Love this forum!