Cottage Gardens
The cottage garden is a peculiarly British obsession, born from Victorian fantasies of rural simplicity, yet it has never quite stood still. Claire Masset traces its winding path from the Arts and Crafts movement right through to contemporary planting, capturing a style that feels both timeless and surprisingly alive. The book visits a generous spread of gardens, well-known and tucked-away alike. Thomas Hardy's Dorset cottage appears, as does the romantically overgrown plot that Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson shaped at Sissinghurst in Kent. Beatrix Potter's Lake District home, Hill Top, gets its moment, along with the charming Alfriston Clergy House in East Sussex. It's a lovely, varied cast of places. For those inspired to get their hands dirty, Masset also offers practical guidance on bringing a cottage garden to life, covering key plants and useful techniques without overwhelming the reader. Climbing roses scramble through the pages, hollyhocks blaze with colour, and wildflower meadows drift alongside honeysuckle-edged paths and blossom-heavy orchards. Whether you're a seasoned cottage gardener or simply someone who finds joy in a gloriously unruly border, this book offers genuine pleasure and a fair bit of useful knowledge along the way.
- Author: Claire Masset
- Publisher: National Trust
- Genre: Gardening & Horticulture
- ISBN: 978-1911358923
- Pages: 176 pages