PS, despite the resident deer and hares, nothing seems to get munched beyond repair. The previous owner even had quite a few hostas! The deer seem to prefer the violets. So I'm not really concerned about deer proofing.

Found a summer photo! My godchildren had fun picking bouquets.

I wouldn't change the overall garden. It is charming as it is, some form but loose and fits the woodland setting. Weed as much as you need but don't worry if there are a few here and there. Keep the bullies in check but big displays of them are good here. Remember, you are there for vacation, enjoy a relaxed garden style and spend your time with your family or reading, or hiking, or fishing, or snoozing, or...

Re: forget me nots I love their bright blue (and also some pink varieties) bloom in the early spring. I pull up most of the old plants and tap the seed heads where I want them to grow the next year. They look interesting as a swath (river) of blue wending through the garden. If you want more form in the spring, pull up the ones that didn't stay where you wanted them.

Mulch is your friend, keeping weeds from growing. I use shredded leaves in my beds but wood chips or pine needles work well also. If I see a weed while deadheading I pull it. Not many grow where it is mulched.

I've watched my mom struggle with her cottage garden for over 20 years because x plant became a weed. Happened over and over again, she will never learn... It's impossible to get out the weeds unless you have serious time to devote weekly. Isn't it always the smaller not well established plants that gardeners get attached to and try to save? I say don't fight it and work with what you have. Let the garden
tell you what it wants to do, then work with that. You'll most likely be
sorry if you try to impose drastic changes on it.

I am a terrible weeder! There, I said it. LOL But it's true. Mom is a wonderful weeder and now that she's moved in with us, my gardens are very happy.

But, as for cottage gardens in the country, if we weed the front, the rest looks like it belongs. Unless it get too big and crowds everything else out or looks like grass. I have a beautiful William Lobb moss rose blooming right now (need to take picture) with a purple crown vetch blooming beside it. If most people saw it, they would ask, what is that beautiful flower? It looks like climbing speedwell : )

Gorgeous..let nature rule and chill!

Thanks all! Just spent a couple of hours weeding and now I feel like I need more bullies to crowd out the weeds! Haha!

I wish I had your problems! What joy to have all that space! Plant a whole bunch of stuff that does well in the area and the weeds have less room to grow