Wild and romantic garden inspiration
Roses around the door, lush flowery borders, butterflies fluttering lazily from bloom to bloom… this style of gardening is colourful, relaxed and can be surprisingly wildlife-friendly
Relax - let it flow
Spend a bit of time first off sorting out a good structure with some hedges and topiary or low walls, then let your planting run free. Use traditional cottage garden flowers like foxgloves and peonies to create a romantic ambience, and add ornamental grasses to bring movement and hold it together – especially if you plant them in drifts, swirling through the garden.
The plants in this type of garden can be chosen to attract pollinating insects which is great news for wildlife. And seeing bees and butterflies really adds to the appeal of this relaxed style.
Foxgloves and drystone walling give a romantic cottage garden feel
Grasses such as this Stipa gigantea add movement and catch the light beautifully
Follow nature's lead
Allowing plants to spread and seed themselves about can create beautiful and interesting combinations
Let your plants ‘self-seed’ – this simply means allow them to set seed (no deadheading!) and then not weeding out their babies. This is a low-effort, high-reward way of making your garden feel natural and reconnecting with nature. Sometimes the most wonderful plant combinations are those that happen by accident.
Perfumed pleasures
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) has a delicious perfume
Plant night-scented flowers like jasmines, nicotiana and stocks. At sunset on warm summer evenings, what could be more romantic than to head into the garden and sniff out fragrant flowers as the stars come out? Grow them close to doors and pathways for maximum enjoyment.
Light up your lawn
Allium meadow at Wisley
Autumn crocus in grass
Alpine Meadow at Wisley
Grow roses
Rose 'Charles de Mills'
The Rose Garden at Rosemoor
What romantic garden could be complete without roses? There are many hundreds of varieties, many with French names that evoke another era, such as the deliciously-scented ‘Charles de Mills’. For the full rose experience, grow some shrub roses in the garden, along with climbers on arches or trellis. Why not visit a rose nursery in summer to sniff out your favourites?
