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The Contemporary Cottage Garden – A Book Review

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The Contemporary Cottage is the perfect book when considering a cottage garden.

At this time of year, many gardeners are looking for ways to diversify their green spaces. Should it be filled with overflowing pots of color, creatively formal, or naturalistic? A contemporary cottage-style garden might be in the cards. If you need a good resource on what to consider, Pamela Hubbard has combined all of these things in one book. The Contemporary Cottage Garden: Climate-Friendly, Mindful Methods for Growing Flowers and Food. This book offers practical knowledge useful to gardeners of all levels. It serves as a blueprint when contemplating a contemporary cottage garden.

Our irregular climate has many gardeners in a state of ” What do I plant? Is it drought-tolerant? Will it thrive in full sun, or have the growing requirements changed?  This author provides a blueprint with clear instructions on mindfully growing.

Pamela realizes many gardeners might like a cottage garden, just a tad more refined. Many homeowners follow a standard landscape plan to comply with Homeowners’ Associations or public perception. A contemporary cottage garden is not just a colorful garden filled with whimsy. This style of cottage garden addresses weather extremes, experiments with food to nourish our bodies, and provides a place of respite to calm our minds. The contemporary cottage garden is an updated, smart garden with a unique personality.

As a cottage gardener, my garden must give back to nature. The garden provides the gardener with joy from bud to bloom. The garden is also a great place to clear the mind and reduce stress. Chapter 6 is entitled Ease Stress. This chapter offers ideas on what to include when planning the contemporary cottage garden. For this style of garden, include a healing garden room, sensory area, and a cutting garden. Imagine a garden that invites you to touch a textured leaf, or taste a small fruit.

The scent of a flower or plant often reminds us of a loved one or a familiar place. The contemporary cottage garden can include familiar plants that invite us to visit the garden when we least expect it. Sometimes a familiar bloom or scent draws us into the garden for a much-needed break.

This is the perfect time of the year to read a book like this. Becoming more mindful of weather extremes matters, as we notice how the garden reacts to them. Adding diversity to the garden is a much-needed practice as we explore plants to consider that will thrive in our new normal. The Contemporary Cottage Garden is the blueprint for the present and the future.

As we consider planting gardens that hold up in the heat, Pamela shares tips on Fire-wise gardens. Did you know there are specific design tips for fire-prone areas? The author provides examples of plants known to survive fire-prone areas.

Leaving a legacy by teaching others and encouraging the next generation to engage with this earth is important. In Chapter 7, Pamela offers suggestions on leaving a horticultural legacy. Seed saving, sowing seeds together, or planting a seedling invites us to connect with our gardens. This act also encourages us to share parts of our garden with others. The author even includes instructions on starting a children’s cottage garden. One way to keep children engaged with gardening year-round is to provide activities. A few suggested activities can be as simple as exploring woodlands and parks. Many community resources offer programs to connect young people to the environment. This creates conscientious environmental awareness. Encouraging children to be responsible conservationists sets a positive example for the next generation. Pamela believes gardening with children is genuinely magical, and I humbly agree.

The photography in this book is amazing. The photographer is Rob Cardillo, and his work never disappoints. Rob captures the finer details of the many plants included in this book. If you are looking for an inspiring book on contemporary cottage gardening, this is a great book. It is easy to read, offers simple instructions, and encourages the reader to plan a contemporary cottage garden.

 

 

Peace Rose…A Message for This Moment

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“Peace” finally bloomed this week. 

For many, the Peace rose is merely another pretty rose. When I look at this bloom, it reminds me of its significance and a message that rings true today. The Peace rose is an old familiar friend to those who love roses.

We can offer thanks to Francis Meilland, a horticulturist in France. Noticing the beauty of this rose as war consumed Europe, he sent root wood to horticulturists around the globe. The Conrad Pyle Company gave it the name 3-35-40. This company trialed, preserved, and produced this rose.

Over the years, the Peace rose has had many names in many different countries. Francis named it Madame Meilland to honor his mother. Once it became popular, Francis Meilland thought this rose should be his namesake. Although this request was denied, this rose became famous for another reason. Field Marshall Alan Brooke named this rose ‘Peace’ to honor the end of World War II on April 29, 1945.  “We hope the ‘Peace’ rose will influence men’s thoughts for everlasting world peace”  was attached to each rose in a beautiful card. Each member of the United Nations took a living message of peace back to their homeland.  What a huge honor for such a beautiful rose.

Caring for Peace Rose

The soft yellow bloom, accented with pink edging, is only part of the beauty of Peace. With even watering, proper nutrients, and a bit of mulch to keep the roots moist, Peace will thrive in full sun. Using organic fertilizer and keeping the mulch at least two fingers away from the crown will keep this rose healthy. Providing proper air circulation will help alleviate fungal issues on the foliage. The sweet fragrance is great in a vase or even in a bouquet. Remember to deadhead for continuous bloom. Keep in mind this rose can grow up to 5+ feet in the right setting. Who can resist a sweet-smelling rose at nose level?

Negro Garden Clubs and Peace

The Peace rose had a special meaning for The Negro Garden Clubs of Virginia.  Founded on April 22, 1932, these garden clubs grew to enhance and define the power of community. Negro Garden clubs had a mission to uplift their communities by demonstrating environmental justice, resilience, and empowerment.

There are memorable legends of the Negro Garden Clubs, including Lillian Hughes Savage. A pillar of her community, Lillian was a community organizer…not just a member of the Progressive Garden Club. This garden club promoted growing victory gardens and sharing the harvest.  As 1942 President of the Negro Garden Clubs of Virginia, she encouraged those in her community to resist the ugliness in the world and enhance their environment with beauty. In the Jim Crow era, this was quite a task for underfunded, underserved communities. Beautiful gardens grew in front yards, churchyards, and everywhere in between. Negro Garden Clubs grew in communities throughout the United States, promoting beautification and civic engagement through churches and private societies. These garden clubs welcomed children and men.

Another legend of the Negro Garden Clubs is Marian Forsythe. She was a special education teacher, a community activist, and a member of Our Garden Club of Philadelphia and Vicinity. Her home in Philadelphia was known for the beautiful yellow roses she grew in her garden. The yellow roses provided a bit of sunshine as she cared for her brother, Paul Robeson. The Peace rose was chosen as the floral symbol of The Negro Garden Clubs.

Garden Club members often traded items such as passalong plants and seeds. These residents helped each other create beauty throughout their communities. In an unkind world, the garden clubs taught resistance through beautification and built stronger communities. The Negro Garden Clubs of Virginia are known for community beautification projects that supported diversity. Realizing the positive impacts of beautification efforts, these garden clubs were quite popular and even held gatherings to share their techniques and ideas. Many of these meetings offered rewards for floral arranging, hat decorating, and more. The participants wore their finest dresses, gloves, pearls, and were quite proud to be a part of creating beauty in the community.

Peace rose in bud…

This week, after heat and drought, the Peace Rose in my garden bloomed. It was a visual symbol of hope for a better world that I needed to witness this week. With healthy foliage, it did not bloom in May or June. I worried it would succumb to the extreme weather experienced in early summer. I noticed buds setting in early August. An old saying assures us that a pot never boils over if you watch it. This rings true when waiting for a flower to bloom. In a week heavy with concern for this country, my Peace rose made its presence known.

I knew then why the Negro Garden Clubs chose this as their logo at such a challenging time in history. Peace, positivity, and hope are the gifts from my garden this week. I am honored to know that peace happens with persistence, resistance, and a bit of hope.

Call to Action

If you know of an African American Garden Club, or have a relative who was a member of a Negro Garden Club, let’s connect before the stories and documentation are lost. Sharing this story is important as we rebuild and beautify our communities.

What plants are in your garden that represent something meaningful in your life? Do you know the plant’s history?

Sitting here debating whether to cut this first bloom or enjoy its presence in this moment…

Woman smiling in garden with flowers.
Ter Speight, Author, Black Flora – Inspiring Profiles of Floriculture’s New Vanguard,    Co-author, The Urban Garden – 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editing Our Gardens – Positive Actions for Beautiful Results

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Editing Solidago gigantea has been a challenge.

Editing is a necessary action for many of the common things encountered daily. As a gardener, when I look at the garden, editing is an essential practice for many reasons. Looking at the same garden year after year gets old. As with life, everything must change from time to time. Many times, the changes are not to our liking. That is when we realize that editing is necessary to maintain a positive perspective.

When we consider editing, first one must remove what is no longer pleasing. Is it that tall Solidago that seems to continue creeping through the garden bed? Left to it’s own devices, a plant such as this will overtake anything in it’s path. While it may be easy to edit, unless all of the roots are removed, it will continue to show up season after season. While this plant is a food source for pollinators, planting it in the proper space is simply a good idea. As the saying goes… everything isn’t for everybody.

Should we choose to allow the undesirable plants in the garden to go without editing, the roots will deeply embed themselves in the existing soil. Once this happens, editing becomes quite difficult.

Let’s explore leaving Periwinkle in place. While the evergreen leaves, accented by beautiful blooms in spring often serves as a great groundcover – reconsidering this plant is simply a suggestion. As with many plants considered invasive in certain zones, the first year they sleep, second year they creep, the third year they leap. Practicing patience in the garden is the perfect way to keep editing at a minimum.

Evergreen groundcover I thought would be a good thing in lieu of mulch…not so much!

When I first purchased my Cottage, money was tight. Considering a mortgage, utilities, home ownership was exciting, however I still needed to create a garden that was mine. So many people offered me free plants and I turned nothing away (my first mistake). Although I knew better, i decided to place the free periwinkle at the base of the white oak tree in lieu of mulch. My plan was to save up and purchase flats of mondo grass for a perennial lawn like affect under the tree. My vision was to have Crocus, Galanthus and other spring bulbs pop through for a magical welcome to spring. Just imagine – a low maintenance vision of beauty, right?

Sadly, the Oak tree has been removed, I pulled up all the periwinkle or “killed” it by covering it with fresh, hot stump grindings. That was two years ago and I am still editing the periwinkle out of places that it is no longer wanted.

This innocent, sweet smelling bloom has become a nuisance in my garden.

Think of Clematis terniflora. Ah yes, the benefits of a quick growing vine, perfect for the arbor or wall. It seems so innocent when the buds open and emit a sweet scent signaling summer’s end. Sweet Autumn clematis situated on the arbor by my writing room window seemed like a good idea twenty years ago. Unfortunately I find seedlings every where I didn’t plant it. Newsflash – even if you do not water it, this vine still grows.

I am suggesting keep that sleep, creep, leap idea in the forefront of our minds as we consider editing our gardens. Reminding ourselves that not all beauty is good beauty, no matter how sweet the smell, is a good idea. As our would continues to change, editing the things that were poor choices before deeper roots alter our existence permanently is essential.

As we begin nesting season, consider how editing your garden to remove what no longer pleases you. Taking time to choose change over chaos always creates a beautiful landscape in life and in the garden. We learn by the choices we make, no matter how much we want change, choices without research matter. Sometimes year three can become quite a challenge, as the roots can be deeper than anticipated.

Are you considering editing your existing landscape?

Teri, Cottage in the Court (Now writing on Substack…follow me )

Memphis Fling -Magical Memories of A Special Garden

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Memphis Fling …magical memories in the most unexpected places!

The Memphis Fling was an event that was on my mind all Spring. The Fling is a much-anticipated event for garden bloggers, writers, and social media garden enthusiasts with active social media accounts. The Fling was in Memphis, Tennessee…and what a treat it was.

Many of the participants who attended the Fling have posted pictures of the many gardens we visited. I wanted to share a very special, magical garden at the home of the Thompsons.

Escorted to this magical garden by a team of drivers, the narrow driveway piqued the curiosity of all the attendees. This only added to the intrigue of what we were about to encounter. A wooded area with carefully curated plantings surrounded all who entered.

As a garden enthusiast, I appreciate all gardens. From the moment I entered this property, inspiration was everywhere.

This was the most amazing She Shed or Potting house!

Here is a glimpse inside…and yes, I was drooling!

This SheShed had books, plants, a place to pause, and more. Look at that tasteful book title beckoning me to pause… I pressed on in anticipation of the unexpected.
What is a potting shed without some plants gracing the windows and whimsical art, capturing the humor of the owner?
This truly melted my heart. Books, plants, soil, a wash basin – all without tracking soil into the main house? Yes, a droolworthy experience!

The first stop was quite the treat. Deciding which way to go to see the main garden was easy. Observing the tree canopy, which created a much-needed break from the strong Memphis heat, we wandered up the driveway. Gardens can be magical in many different ways. Many times, it is the lighting, the plant choices, or the art found within that evokes a certain sentiment. The magic found in this garden combined all of these elements and more.

As the Fling attendees scattered towards the main garden, some of us took the shady route past a beautiful lake.
The lake on the Thompson property was worthy of strolling by…in the shade.

Arriving at the top, we noticed an electic piece of art…I knew it was going to be an amazing adventure.

A warm welcome from the homeowner, Elvis, and two very protective, gorgeous dogs made it clear that we were going to witness a Memphis magical moment. This amazing hostess wore the most intriguing necklace. I could tell that she enjoyed sharing her garden with all of the attendees, as her eyes sparkled like diamonds with glee.

Mrs. Thompson, Elvis, and a smattering of the 60+ Fling attendees.

First, I encountered a garden kissed by the dappled light of mature trees above. From the eclectic collection of birdhouses to the espaliered trees on the sensual clay walls, this was a garden room I wanted to call my own.

Birdhouses and wonderful garden art added a whimsical feel to this calming space.
Two of our hosts, Sharron Holloway Johnson and Kim Halyak in the shade room.
I fell in love with the hydrangea skirting the carefully espaliered trees. The art only added to this garden room.

One could imagine sitting in this protected space in any season. In the winter, it would serve as the perfect sunny spot for writing. In the summer, this space offered a cool respite from the heat for all who chose to pause.

A welcoming entryway provided a perfect place for pausing.

Here are a few scenes along the way to the main garden…

This garden offered a little bit of this and a little bit of that, no matter where the attendees decided to explore. I held back from the crowds to absorb the feeling of peace in this magical space. I noticed what some called the focal point of this garden. A hillside garden filled with rare plants, common plants, and a little garden art.

In a garden like this, looking up matters. I noticed these Staghorn Ferns on the side of a tree.

Pieces of art were carefully placed throughout the garden. Art often creates places to pause, smile, and wonder what inspired the gardener to position it wherever it is.

Above the hillside planting, an area for pausing presented itself to all who explored…

In this shaded upper garden room, the plantings and the art were simple and calming.

Returning to the lower garden area, there were many other vignettes to inspire the attendees of the Memphis Fling…

This was one of my favorite views. It combined plants, architecture, and art.
The art was simple, yet placed in a spot that would allow it to be the centerpiece of that particular garden room.
Using plants that require minimal care, yet are living pieces of art.
Pots can inspire without plants as well. I think I will use this concept on my terrace.
A carefully positioned seating area in a shady nook, close to the house. A carefully curated garden should always include places to pause. The perfect place to protect the moonpies from the hot sun.
With a home like this, even the dogs had beauty right outside their doggy door. The Hollyhock was a family heirloom passed down through many generations.
A departing view, as I looked back to embrace the beauty that surrounded me on a sultry Memphis day.
From the rain chain to the plantings below, this garden was quite magical and will remain etched in my mind as I remember the MemphisFling
Truth be told, the garden was magical, whimsical and brought joy to all who entered. The homeowner was the highlight of my day.

Memphis is such a magical place. The people, the gardens, and the southern hospitality made the 2025 Garden Fling quite the event of the summer. Thank you to Mr. and Mrs Thompson for opening your heart and your garden to the attendees of the Memphis Fling.

Garden Clubs – A New Way to Connect Communities

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In a way, garden clubs are an act of peaceful resistance. It is the perfect way to encourage communities to turn to the earth for positive engagement. Limited funding for a planting to brighten up an area in need of a facelift? Try partnering with a local garden club. Enlist the youth, a science club, an organization like the Boys and Girls clubs, or even the Scouts to play a role in the effort.  Remember, after the projects installation, there will be ongoing maintenance. Choose partnerships that are invested for the long term.

Garden Club license plate holder? Yes I am proudly wearing the words on my car.

Garden clubs have super powers. This has been proven over time, since they have been around for quite sometime. Many communities considered these groups to be out of reach for the common person. In some circles, one had to be invited to join by an esteemed member.

I bet there are some garden clubs existing today which might still abide by these rules. There are also some garden clubs which accept new members who are eager to get their hands in the soil to beautify or just to be a part of something beautiful. I am a firm believer that garden clubs are an essential part of community engagement and connectivity.

As with many civic groups, the membership will ebb and flow due to the generational divide in the community. If a community has mostly Seniors, the need for low impact, but fun opportunities are a good idea for engagement. A younger community might consider adding art, forest bathing, outdoors yoga, or plantings with a purpose. These activities generally appeal to a younger, or even an active midlife demographic.

Choosing a curriculum which encourages residents to come out, get involved, and explore their surroundings is very important . Offering art livens up the community canvas, painting a uniquely diverse picture of inhabitants. Purposeful plantings, add life and interest to an otherwise plain palette.

Garden clubs offer beautification projects, youth garden projects, floral arranging, floral judging, and more. There is one garden club known as Our Garden Club of Philadelphia and Vicinity. They are celebrated for the unique ways they engage with the surrounding communities throughout Philadelphia. Such a unique group of garden enthusiasts that have been around for over 80 years.

Sowing seeds that helped build their community evolved from noticing a need. It all started by gathering in the home of Bertha Rhodes. This garden club exists today with a common goal of encouraging other like-minded community members of all skill levels to get excited about gardening. Beautification, continued education, and the importance of conserving our natural resources are all important issues for the members of this group. They serve as an example of the power of garden clubs in community.

In today’s world, as communities become more financially challenged, the need for garden clubs is more important than ever. Sustainable practices, becoming more aware of conservation efforts, and recycling are all things we might hear mentioned quite regularly. Garden clubs are a user friendly way to educate and inform community members. They are also a way to beautify, as well as demonstrate which plants thrive in a specific area, zone, or even introduce new plant offerings. The role a garden club can play in uplifting a community is priceless.

Provide a place where the younger generation can take ownership in making a community more visually appealing. With the guidance of garden club members, opportunities for a collaborative effort will unfold and encourage others to get involved!

As one who loves being a part of a garden club, I am observing some of the smaller clubs connecting with other clubs to enjoy meaningful experiences. Connecting is like sowing seeds of opportunity to other like-minded people with a common goal in mind. There is beauty in education, expanding the hands on knowledge of gardening, and gathering.

I’m attending the 2025 National Garden Club Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. After listening to the various ways garden clubs bring value as well as beauty to communities, my heart is full. I am realizing that I am not just a crazy, old garden club member. Instead, I am an Ambassador to encourage garden clubs to form and become positive forces in communities everywhere

I love playing with words and creating something meaningful. Choosing the word garden, a few items came to mind.

G is for gathering like-minded people interested in gardening.

A is for accepting people of all levels of garden experience and sharing the knowledge.

R is for recognizing beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

D is for learning how to design appealing gardens and floral arrangements

E is for educational opportunities offered by Garden School programming

N is for navigating the next generation of garden clubs and garden club members. NOW is the time to get involved.

As a past garden club president, it is a daunting task to step into the role as an organizer of something so beautifully radical as a garden club. Delegating is encouraged to ensure everyone interested in the success of the group has a role. Creating rules of engagement on how your entity wants to improve and engage the community is key. Understanding how starting small allows you to reach dedicated community participants.

The seed of a sunflower is often quite small compared to the plant that many love in the late summer garden. From one small seed, a plant with astronomical proportions offers a smile to the young, as well as the old.

Starting something as beautiful as a garden club to get out in nature, connect with the soil and perhaps ground the spirit is truly an act of resistance. Many people are intensely focused on growing food, totally forgetting about the power of flowers. Flowers in the garden or in a vase, can be a visual break in an otherwise stress filled existence. As I walked through my garden on a rainy evening, two red hibiscus blooms caught my eye. I purchased these to go in my window boxes, perhaps to notice a hummingbird or two. Yet on the ground, those blooms welcomed me into my own garden. I needed these bright spots of encouragement on an otherwise grey day.

Garden Clubs help us believe in hope and the future.

It is the little moments in the garden that remind us to have hope, brighter days are ahead…and to believe in the power of flowers. The joy found in the garden and in garden clubs is often underrated.

As we face the unexpected upheavals in life, connect with your garden. Consider joining a garden club or creating your own local garden club. There are state level clubs and national clubs that offer many opportunities to engage.

I love being a part of a garden club. It adds joy to my life and is a great way to stay connected to community. Here is a link to connect to National Garden Clubs www.gardenclub.org

Resist getting caught up in the spiral of negativity and instead, engage in making your surroundings beautiful! 

I’m watching the weather, and excited to hear about opportunities to beautify my community! Perhaps I could be acknowlededged for uplifting and beautifying my community.

Sitting here dreaming of the possibilities and how I can sow seeds of positivity in my garden club.

Teri, Cottage in the Court