Out back, our “cottage garden,” is aiming to mimic those in England. These botanical gems appear rather scattered, but are, in fact, designed to appeal to the eye like a butterfly flitting from blossom to blossom.
Our early flowers include coreopsis, and behind, barely peeking through, forget-me-nots with their delicate periwinkle hue.
The Romantic poets–think Thomas Hardy and Coleridge–created floral treasures just outside their cottages–hence the name. There, beauty was allowed space to run wild, much like the human imagination.
Here, a few of our daisies are blooming against purple stalks of my favorite ground cover, ajuga.
Our garden includes vegetables, and some of our first lettuces added flavor and color to today’s lunch:
The novel I’m working on right now moves from England to Texas Hill Country, and over the next few weeks, I plan to share photos from our courtyard here in Northern Iowa, and then some from those Texas Hills as I embark on a short research trip.
After some severe disappointments, our hero emigrates from his native land in the years before World War II. As he begins a new life, he wonders if the climate of these Texas hills will support a cottage garden.
Well, there’s only one way to find out! RW. Emerson encourages him along the way: “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”
Seeing developments in Europe through this British chap’s eyes intrigues me. At the same time, his perspective on developments here in the States, like the Pearl Harbor attack, broadens my understanding of those tumultuous days in our history.
Hope you enjoy the blossoming of our cottage garden and an inside glimpse as this story gradually takes shape.(Yep . . . like a cottage garden!)
Aw, I had to run out for a better shot of those lovely little forget-me-nots!
I can’t help but think “beauty among the chaos” as I compare your cottage garden to the news and events of our time. Thank you for giving us this peaceful interlude; and I look forward to learning more about “the pink” in your upcoming novel. God’s blessings Ms. Gail.
Thanks J.D. I love the way you related these two opposites…that’s the way we must learn to think, right? And seek the beauty/joy.
I love your cottage garden photos, Gail! Looking forward to your new book, too.
Blessings!
Oh, thank you so much. I have that sense right now of “waiting for the birth!”
Lovely garden Gail, there’s nothing more beautiful than a cottage garden, a bit wild but all colours, shapes and sizes working together to create beauty in the whole. An example for the world of humanity. I grew up being told so many times that “there is nothing more honest than soil”. My forget-me-nots are just finishing, scilla are tiny but dramatic against the periwinkle blue. Thank you for sharing the beauty
Absolutely! What is Scilla? I’m not so good at all the names, but am learning. And I love that quote you shared!
Love seeing your garden photos! Your forget-me-nots are gorgeous. I forgot I had some ajuga once. Such delicate flower. I think I need to et some aain. Thanks for sharing the beauty of your garden.
Leslie
And thanks for commenting on it, Leslie. The forget-me-nots are that very unique color…nothing quite like them.
I love country gardens. With all of the different species of plant/flowers, the rainbow of colors and the randomness of size,arrangements and locations, you’d think viewing them would cause a sense of confusion. But instead, what a wonderful sense of enjoyment and contentment they gift to us.
That’s such a pertinent insight about their effect on us. Thanks, Judy.
I love your photos and look forward to reading your new book!
Thanks, Irene. I appreciate your faithful friendship.