Welcome to the family, I mean forum. You'll find a really friendly bunch here, stick with us and you'll soon be as addicted to gardening as the rest of us. Ask all the questions you want, we're always ready to throw our two cents in. If you don't know the names of some of your plants just post a picture and I'm sure someone here can tell you what it is, you don't want to be throwing away any treasures.
Annette

Welcome to the Forum. Yes, Annette is right, don't dig up anything until you know what it is....you may have lots of goodies already in place.

I guarantee you posting pictures will get you almost any answer you need to get started.

Good luck with your new home and garden.

Welcome. Annette has given you excellent advice. I bought a 1948 home 4 years ago and I'm so glad I didn't start digging things up right away. I had gardened before in California but wasn't that familiar with lots of the plants in my Georgia yard. Gardening teaches patience.

The more I garden the more I realize it has to do a lot with keeping the soil healthy. This isn't the instant reward part of it but in the long term it makes for good exercise and your plants will thrive and bloom and grow.

There's trial and error to gardening too. These forums will reduce the errors but don't get discouraged. All gardeners will tell you there's always some losses in a big operation :-)

The folks here are generous and kind and funny and helpful. Gardeners are all these things plus impulsive, creative, and often obsessed. Remember to have fun.

Welcome to the the clan! I agree that it is best not to take anything out, unless you know what it is and don't like it. When I moved to my present location, there was what I thought was a dead bush. It turned out to be a very intriguing native, and it was not dead. I am so glad I gave it several months to prove itself. I have become quite fond of this unusual bush (broom dalea).

My mom is from England. She is not, however, an accomplished gardener. I'm originally from Massachusetts, but lived most of my life in California. Several of us have ties to the UK.

Lorna

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on taking on the creation of a cottage garden. You won't regret it!

Along with the suggestions already posted, I would also suggest that you look around at gardens in your area that are lush and thriving. It's so important to make plant selections that are appropriate to your climate and soil conditions. Of course, you can experiment a bit, but it's also nice to establish the "bones" of your garden with plantings that are sure-things.

I've found that our local garden club has been a valuable resource. They also have a yearly plant sale consisting of starts from the member's own gardens.

Generally, anything brought to these kind of sales is something that is abundant and thriving in a member's gardens, which would be good selection for you, too. I also support the idea of buying locally as much as possible.

Enjoy the process of creating your garden!

Marilyn

Building on what's already been suggested, I would advise taking a whole year to identify and catalog what is in the garden.

What may look like some ugly sticks or ratty foliage in September may be something spectacular in March, May, or July once the weeds around it are identified and removed.

Overgrown shrubs may just need pruning into small trees or cutting to the ground to renew their beauty.

Many here with new gardens would be tickled to have a garden full of established bones. It has taken me years to decide to delete some things my late MIL planted, except for the diseased apple trees, LOL. A few things took years to reappear, hidden treasures.

To feed your need for a garden of 'your own' you might consider a new nursery bed of plants to trial in anticipation of replacing the things that are really not suitable.

Looking forward to your photos.

Nell

A very good reason to go slow when rebuilding/ restoring a cottage garden... as others have said you might have some real treasures. I'm in the middle of restoring an overgrown bed which is full of couch grass. So far I have salvaged several bearded iris that don't seem to be available anymore, phlox pan. 'Franz Shubert', a clump of trumpet lilies 'Golden Eagle', a herbaceous clematis 'Stans' not easily found in the nurseries, two perennial geraniums grandiflorum and magnificum, two peonies amonst other things. I've just about got all the plants out then it's tackle the couch grass. All these plants are either being heeled in elsewhere or going into pots in a protected area for the winter. Then it's tackle that b..... couch grass.

Annette

Welcome to the forum! Yes, this is a friendly group here, so don't be afraid to post questions and photos.

It's so wonderful that you've taken up this gardening interest. And, that you have a family garden for your memories and a foundation for your own vision of your very own cottage garden.

Cameron

I like all the advice you've been given. I'll add that after many years of gardening, I continue to learn as I go. I still make mistakes, and not everything I plant grows well, but there are always plants that do well, and offer beauty, wonderful scents, or just relief from the boredom of grass.

Have fun on your adventure, and please send photos! If you're sending more than a few, find the gallery link that's next to "conversations" and "discussions".

Sue

I know geography has nothing to do with talent....

Geography does have much to do with success. Anything that your mother planted that is still thriving in your garden is a survivor. You may want more up-to-date cultivars of the same plants.

A pitfall of Garden Web is that we are wooed by pictures of Libby's garden in the PNW, NatvTexan's garden, Sierra in coldest Canada, Cameron, Anne and Vickie in southern states, among many others and think, 'Oh, I MUST have that,' forgetting where we are and what will thrive.

Were you reading Cottage Forum when we all pounced on a young gardener who was about to cut down an ancient lilac bush instead of pruning it into a tree as we urged? Her DH did the pruning and it was a huge success.

Some of our advice may go against what you want to hear, but it's usually valid when a bunch of 'old' gardeners agree.

It will be great help if you can get some State/County Extension information on what plants grow best in your area. Plants that do well in nearby university trials are always winners. Local plant groups like Native Plant Societies and Perennial Plant Associations for your state are great resources, too.

Nell

Hello again,

Thank you for the warm welcome and understanding. I like this forum very much. One thing I'm very confused about is all the abbreviations such as "my DH" and "Libby's garden in the PNW". These forums seem to be full of some secret code I'm not privy to.

"DH"?

a) Dead husband, likely not

b) Dear husband, more than likely

c) Deranged housekeeper, too silly.

d) Doctor of Horticulture, hmmmmn maybe.

e) Disreputable henchmen, surely not.

Can someone break this code? I haven't seen this much covert activity since Ceausescu's Securitate (secret police) spied on everyone.

Many thanks for all your quick responses.

YGRROBPOOSNLIC. (figure that one out and I'll mail the winner a dollar, LOL)

LOL! I love your sense of humor. DH is dear husband.
When I was new to computers, I asked a friend what LOL was. It is laughing out loud.
This link will help you break the code(s)

And remember there are no dumb or stupid questions here, only things one has yet to learn.

Kathy.

Here is a link that might be useful: forum speak

PNW is the Pacific Northwest, where they grow flowers that the rest of us just drool over.

MIL is motherinlaw, DD is ducky daughter, or something similar.

The only letters you need concern yourself in the garden are N-P-K. Once you have that one down pat, you're set.

Nell

And a welcome from me!! One of my favourite professional gardeners said that it is better to have dirty thumbs than a green thumb. I second that. I've been gardening my whole life, yes, even as a child as the great dandelion hunter (I think that's why I leave them be now!!). I've killed one rose so far this summer....I work on a percentage basis. Hopefully more live than die!! lol!!

Oh yes, and the code does take a bit to get used to!!!

Nancy.

Nice to have you derelictgardener!
Everyone has given you loads of wonderful advice about going slow and seeing what is allready in your garden.
The only advice I could give you is to tell you not to be intimidated by gardening. One of the best ways to learn is thru experience.
I knew nothing about gardening when I started about seven years back. I bought a plant encyclopedia and just tried not to kill anything. But eventually I became comfortable with what I was growing and became bolder with what I planted and did in the garden. Along the way you pick up the Latin names of plants and can even identify them across a crowded nursery. You will learn a lot from the wonderful people here and also through your own observations and experiments in the garden.

Really, the best advice I could give you is have fun and enjoy watching the transformation of your garden!
Welcome again, from a PNW native! ;-)
CMK

Thanks for all the great info. I believe there has been a misunderstanding. I am a new member to Gardenweb and to gardening, however I bought my mothers colonial "half house" (smaller than the traditional Connecticut colonial with central door flanked by groups of four windows) three years ago. I have waited it out and I know the few things that survived peeking through the brush. Ive planted tons of perennials I just don't know what works with what and whats best.

Thanks,
Mihai

Post photos in the Gallery!

Sue

Ahhhh, that's a different story Mihai. Sometimes finding that out is simply a matter of trial and error or knowing the sizes of the plants and what colors you like and what you think will go together well.

I don't like rules in gardening and think Cottage method fits that very well.

That being said, find pictures of gardens you like and take it from there. This forum is great for that.

I feel foolish.
I gave 'new gardener' advice to someone who watched a garden for three years,
identified the existing plants and filled it with perennials already.

Nell

Me too Nell,

Annette

I find this whole thread confusing???

Sierra

Okay, so very sorry. I really love this forum and I don't want to upset or confuse anyone. My father, wife, and myself are Romanian, my mother is British( but now an American citizen). I live in her house in Connecticut. She got the house from a cousin whose great great, had moved here from England in the 1800's. Anyway, lets set this thread straight.

I've now owned the house for three years.

the fist year I left the gardens as is, meadow like, very overgrown to the point that statues were obscured by a screen of weeds and vines in a rather post apocalyptic style.

The second year, having thinned it all out in the early spring, I laid a brick edging and took back the beds.

that same summer I started with perennials.

This the third year, I see not everything took, and I left one back walled bed to do as it pleased. A thistle, and some stringy plant along with four cosmos popped up. So early in the summer I planted my tomatoes and peppers there. This looks odd in the very formal walled garden but it worked freeing up time for me to spend on defining the remaining beds.

I really know next to nothing of gardening. My property is very shaded and I'm always trying to force sun plants to thrive there with very little success (go figure).

You people really have been helpful and I hope to rely on you greatly in the future. I haven't really identified much in my garden because I'm not sure what it all is. The things I buy in the garden center that look amazing on the shelf always look lost in my beds. Weeds seem to like me but if I pull them I lose flowers because I couldn't tell them apart.

Sierra, Annette, and Nell, you are wonderful people who cared enough for a fellow gardener to lend a helpful hint. You didn't have all the facts and for that I apologize. My wife once joined a recipe site but left it finding the people were rude and ignoring her questions, passing her over as a novice. The one thing I bragged to her about is how friendly everyone here is.

I started this project in honor of my mother who is now in long-term care. I even left her Union jack waving on the flag pole in the back garden. My dream is to have a party for her birthday on the lawn in her old garden all up to date next year. Something for her to sit and relax in.

I love coming in and checking this forum, looking at the responses, its now a part of my routine. I'm learning a great deal from the entrees. I only put water on my plants, I do nothing to the soil and I rarely use miracle-gro. This always worked for my mother but she seemed to have a talent for these things. I do recall her adding fresh cow manure and a white powder called rabbits blood, I think? But to what, and when, I'm not sure.

I don't do annuals because I'm too cheap and nothing from seed ever grown much for me. I love my cone flowers and my black-eyed-susans but I'd be grateful for some red in the garden too. My lavender never grows as it did for her and my bee-balm puts on a good show only in parts of the garden.

So you see. I enjoy this place immensely and I not only want to, but need to learn from you all.

Thanks,
Mihai

Well were glad to have you. Dont worry, we never mind answering any questions you have and giving advice. And I know I speak for all when I say we LOVE seeing other peoples gardens!
Im not sure if you knew this, but there is a forum here on GardenWeb that IDs plants if you post a pic of them. The Perennial forum is also helpful too.
CMK

Mihai, so glad you've joined us, I have to clarify why I said I felt foolish... you could probably teach me a thing or two. Needless to say we will be looking forward to seeing pictures of your garden as it develops, maybe even steal an idea or two :o).

Annette

Okay....you will get more helpful answers if you ask specific questions. What is this plant...and show a picture. Or what red flowering plant can I add to my garden in zone 5.

Good gardens don't just happen, they are brought about by hard work and manure errr knowledge. Reading the posts here is a good place to start.

Second......All gardens need soil ammendments. If your garden has been pretty much left alone for several years..it will need to be refreshed. This is done by adding compost, or manure. It is easier to add to empty beds then till or mix in with a shovel. In an existing bed 2 to 4 inches all around the plants, but do not put right on the plants. Keep the ammendments about 2 inches away from the crown (growing point) of the plant. When adding new plants dump some ammendments into the area and mix well before planting. This has to be done often at least once a year or every second year....because the plants will use the nutrients out of the soil. It can be done anytime in the growing season...spring, fall or when you get around to getting it done...spring is easier because the plants are smaller and easier to work around though. If you do this your plants will have fewer bugs and diseases....which means a healthier garden and a happy gardener.

Never use fresh manure....this can burn your plants. It is best to use aged manure and or compost. This is the BIG secret to having a great garden!!!!

The plants really don't matter as much as the soil. Add plants that you like that say on the tag will grow in your zone. Mix and match colours.....don't be afraid to try different colours and textures together. The only rule of thumb I TRY to use is plant the taller plants behind the shorter ones. LOL!!!! I always have clashing colours in every flower bed......I don't know how that happens. :O If you don't like how something looks, grab that shovel and move it to where you think it will work better.

Look at books, magazines and on the internet for pictures of plant combinations or colours that you like and try to copy them. There are no garden police that I know of....although Kathy's run in with the HOA (home owner association) came close for a while....but rewarded in the end. LOL!!!

Good Luck with your garden.
Sierra