Garden Photo of the Day

Ann’s Cottage Garden

A romantic garden paradise

By GPOD Contributor
purple flowers growing up a small trellis

My name is Ann, and I garden in Zone 6b in Newtown, Connecticut. I have been gardening since 2004 when I lived in Buffalo, New York. I moved to Newtown in 2014. My garden style is English cottage in pinks, purples, and whites. My favorite flowers are my grandmother’s ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peonies (Paeonia ‘Sarah Bernhardt’, Zones 3–8), David Austin roses, foxglove (Digitalis purpurea, Zones 4–8), and Allium ‘Millenium’ (Zones 5–8).

pink and green flowers at sunset
Ann took this photo after she returned home from vacation and was checking to see if her flowers survived the heat. She asked her grandchildren to water the plants, and her two-year-old grandson thought he was a firefighter.

cut dahlia flowers on top of various pumpkins
Signs of beauty in the late-summer garden: pumpkins and dahlias (Dahlia variabilis, Zones 8–11 or as tender bulbs)

close up of a large, light pink rose
This beautiful David Austin rose is the variety ‘Gentle Hermione’. She is a soft and delicate pink, with outer petals that are almost cream.

close up of pink rosesAnd here’s another gorgeous rose developed by David Austin. As is typical with varieties from David Austin, ‘Queen of Sweden’ combines the grace and form of old-fashioned roses with the vigor and rebloom of modern roses.

garden in peak bloom with pink and purple flowers
Ann’s careful color selection of pinks, purples, and whites gave the whole garden a soothing harmony in June when this photo was taken.

close up of pink foxgloves with white and purple flowers in the background
A regal spire of foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea, Zones 4–8) looks perfect and romantic in front of lavender bearded irises (Iris hybrid, bearded group, Zones 3–9).

mason jar vase with pink and white flowers
Spring in a vase, with lilac (Syringa, Zones 3–7) blooms joining some wonderful tulips. These are double-flowered tulips, sometimes called “peony tulips” for the way their large, full flowers mimic the look of peonies.

close up of purple coneflower
It’s high summer in the garden with the blooms of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 3–8).

purple flowers growing up a small trellis
Purple clematis (Clematis hybrid, Zones 4–8) is backed up by a cloud of lavender, pink, and white blooms behind.

If you want to see more of Ann’s garden, check out her instagram: @old_castle_cottage

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    cynthia2020 10/27/2022

    Gorgeous!
    Thank you for sharing.

  2. User avater
    treasuresmom 10/27/2022

    Love the pic of pink, purples, and whites.

  3. User avater
    vanhatalosuomi 10/28/2022

    Oh, to be able to garden in 6b!!! wishful thinking :)
    For us, it's much closer to 5b - but with the occasional brutally cold winter which damages so many 'hardy' items.

    Thank you for sharing your garden. Lovely and very tidy.

  4. cheryl_c 10/28/2022

    Quite lovely! Your fire-fighting grandson did a great job!

  5. User avater
    simplesue 10/28/2022

    Wow! Your garden is so healthy & classically gorgeous and you're growing some of my favorite perennials- I'm so inspired!!!
    I'd gladly pay to walk around your garden if you were on a garden tour!

  6. sheila_schultz 10/28/2022

    The layers of textures you have designed with both soft and strong colors are simply comforting and quite beautiful. You must smile every time you gaze upon your lovely gardens, Ann. Thoughtful designs.

  7. btucker9675 10/28/2022

    Gorgeous photos of a gorgeous garden! How I miss gardening in that zone!

  8. fromvirginia 10/29/2022

    Lovely! Thanks for sharing.

  9. RobinValery 11/29/2022

    I dream that my garden will be filled with colors like yours slope game.

  10. geekydane 05/10/2023

    I also read about the cottage garden on another blog, but this one looks stunning. The flowers are just beautiful

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