What do you think?
Rate this book
The Modern Cottage Garden: A Fresh Approach to a Classic Style
“An inspirational book, with encouraging words and down-to-earth advice for achieving a year-round beautiful garden.” —Michael Marriott, chief rosarian at David Austin Roses
In this practical and inspirational guide, Greg Loades presents a new style of planting: a fusion between classic cottage style and the new perennial movement. Using real gardens as examples, The Modern Cottage Garden teaches gardeners how to combine the best of both styles—big, colorful blooms and striking grasses and native plants—into one beautiful space that requires little maintenance and has a long season of interest. Fresh planting ideas for containers, small gardens, and diverse climates present an exciting style that can shine anywhere.
In this practical and inspirational guide, Greg Loades presents a new style of planting: a fusion between classic cottage style and the new perennial movement. Using real gardens as examples, The Modern Cottage Garden teaches gardeners how to combine the best of both styles—big, colorful blooms and striking grasses and native plants—into one beautiful space that requires little maintenance and has a long season of interest. Fresh planting ideas for containers, small gardens, and diverse climates present an exciting style that can shine anywhere.
228 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2020
63 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 3, 2020
This is a beautiful, richly illustrated book with lots of great information on Loades' modern approach to cottage gardens. That said, it wasn't a perfect fit for me. I love cottage gardens and it's a style I use in my own gardens. There were things I liked about this book and some areas that fell short for me. Goodreads says 3 stars represents "liked it," which is where I fall.
The goods -- Gorgeous photos are used throughout. The author talks about container gardens, small gardens and other variations. He gives lots of tips and a nice history of cottage gardens. The section on 50 must-have plants was nice with photos and profiles. He focuses on the garden in the off seasons too, like winter. He modernizes the idea in a way that will speak to many.
The not so good -- Most of the gardens featured seemed like massive, full time jobs to tend. The aesthetic didn't really strike me as cottage garden anymore, with lots of succulents and nontraditional plants. He tends to recommend having many different modern perennials so you always have flowers, but the end result felt overwhelming to me as a gardener. My garden is a small part of a really busy life as a homesteading, work at home, homeschooling mother of five with large vegetable gardens and quite a lot of household tasks and projects that take up my time. There are also no garden zones given for the recommended plants, which left me not knowing if any of the plants would survive my zone 4 Minnesota garden other than the ones I already grow. The gardens all looked rather well manicured and were mostly just modern hybrid flowers, even though he points out that original cottage gardens were working gardens with a wonderful mix of veggies, herbs, roses and flowers. Also, I just missed the look of the cottage gardens I love -- hollyhocks, shrub roses, elderflowers, etc. with that old fashioned charm.
I'm sure this will be a well loved book by many gardeners. It wasn't very helpful for me, but it will be especially helpful for British gardeners and those with the time and money to create this kind of beautiful garden.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
The goods -- Gorgeous photos are used throughout. The author talks about container gardens, small gardens and other variations. He gives lots of tips and a nice history of cottage gardens. The section on 50 must-have plants was nice with photos and profiles. He focuses on the garden in the off seasons too, like winter. He modernizes the idea in a way that will speak to many.
The not so good -- Most of the gardens featured seemed like massive, full time jobs to tend. The aesthetic didn't really strike me as cottage garden anymore, with lots of succulents and nontraditional plants. He tends to recommend having many different modern perennials so you always have flowers, but the end result felt overwhelming to me as a gardener. My garden is a small part of a really busy life as a homesteading, work at home, homeschooling mother of five with large vegetable gardens and quite a lot of household tasks and projects that take up my time. There are also no garden zones given for the recommended plants, which left me not knowing if any of the plants would survive my zone 4 Minnesota garden other than the ones I already grow. The gardens all looked rather well manicured and were mostly just modern hybrid flowers, even though he points out that original cottage gardens were working gardens with a wonderful mix of veggies, herbs, roses and flowers. Also, I just missed the look of the cottage gardens I love -- hollyhocks, shrub roses, elderflowers, etc. with that old fashioned charm.
I'm sure this will be a well loved book by many gardeners. It wasn't very helpful for me, but it will be especially helpful for British gardeners and those with the time and money to create this kind of beautiful garden.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
October 8, 2020
A great book with fabulous pictures. I really enjoyed looking at them and making my own plan for my garden. While it showcases many gardens it was a charming book. A quick and easy read with great ideas that are practical and effective.
Read
May 23, 2022Published by an American publishing house, but HIGHLY British-centric. Assumes English rainfall levels and climate when discussing plant care. (Mentions once that this is closest to Zone 6.)
An entertaining read as someone who mostly wants to learn about and look at pretty pictures of plants.
Does include tips for how to pair and group plants, which was nice. But overall, not the most practical guide (esp as a US resident)
An entertaining read as someone who mostly wants to learn about and look at pretty pictures of plants.
Does include tips for how to pair and group plants, which was nice. But overall, not the most practical guide (esp as a US resident)
November 17, 2020
A really great and much needed book that is both practical and inspirational. After moving house last year, we've decided that our new garden mostly follows this style of perennial planting mixed in with some cottage garden favourites such as roses.
June 15, 2020
The Modern Cottage Garden is an ideal read for a rainy afternoon and a cup of tea, or a warm summer day in the dappled shade with a tall lemonade. Non-traditional plant pairings, specimen plants, and four season highlights, encourage the reader to think beyond the typical cottage garden by updating it with a “fusion” flair.
Many gardening books share massive gardens for expert gardeners forgetting that many readers do not have the space or expertise to create such spaces. I love to visit large gardens, but often I am too overwhelmed to bring home and replicate any facets of them. Greg Loades brings fresh ideas to those of us who have small spaces - including patio gardens using containers. A container cottage garden, now that is a fresh idea! The photographs are excellent and further inspire the reader.
The seasonal section with “to-do” lists is helpful, as is the list of 50 essential plants. In this time of travel restrictions, the luscious photographs of UK gardens are doubly appreciated. I didn’t love the images of massive gardens and estate landscapes, and where plants are discussed in the text without a photo, I began to skim. There was plenty in this book to compensate for those two shortcomings.
Lovely.
Thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Many gardening books share massive gardens for expert gardeners forgetting that many readers do not have the space or expertise to create such spaces. I love to visit large gardens, but often I am too overwhelmed to bring home and replicate any facets of them. Greg Loades brings fresh ideas to those of us who have small spaces - including patio gardens using containers. A container cottage garden, now that is a fresh idea! The photographs are excellent and further inspire the reader.
The seasonal section with “to-do” lists is helpful, as is the list of 50 essential plants. In this time of travel restrictions, the luscious photographs of UK gardens are doubly appreciated. I didn’t love the images of massive gardens and estate landscapes, and where plants are discussed in the text without a photo, I began to skim. There was plenty in this book to compensate for those two shortcomings.
Lovely.
Thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
December 21, 2020
2-1/2 stars for me; not a bad book but had no application to my situation and didn't capture my imagination.
August 6, 2020
The Modern Cottage Garden by Greg Loades is one of those books that you pick up, read a bit, and then want to share with someone the things you have learnt! In my case, my husband has heard me extolling the virtues of this book.
It goes through cottage style, but then it also gives you ideas for planting, shows you plants in containers, again with suggestions, and there are so many photos of plants!
This really has been a joy to read, so much so that I've added it to my Amazon Wishlist as a hardcopy as I think having this book to go through, go back and re-read various sections, and to use the guides for what to do in each season would be great!
Greg Loades also shows you his mostly container garden, from when it was empty of plants, to so much growth, which really shows you that he practices what he preaches.
The Modern Cottage Garden was published on 20th July 2020, and is available to buy from Amazon, and your local independent bookshop.
You can follow Greg Loades on Twitter and Instagram.
I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Timber Press.
It goes through cottage style, but then it also gives you ideas for planting, shows you plants in containers, again with suggestions, and there are so many photos of plants!
This really has been a joy to read, so much so that I've added it to my Amazon Wishlist as a hardcopy as I think having this book to go through, go back and re-read various sections, and to use the guides for what to do in each season would be great!
Greg Loades also shows you his mostly container garden, from when it was empty of plants, to so much growth, which really shows you that he practices what he preaches.
The Modern Cottage Garden was published on 20th July 2020, and is available to buy from Amazon, and your local independent bookshop.
You can follow Greg Loades on Twitter and Instagram.
I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Timber Press.
July 5, 2023
Guess I really didn't know the definition of a cottage garden was (generally pastel "flowery" flowers & roses that reach their main bloom period in early to mid summer and then garden goes kuput), and have only practiced the new perennial movement (flowers, grasses, shrubs orchestrated to have something blooming from start to finish of entire growing season). This book takes the New Perennial Movement and incorporates traditional Cottage Garden plants such as roses & foxgloves to become the Modern Cottage Garden whether it's a large area, a small garden, or containers only. Was a bit hard for me too glean to much practical info because of wetter locations in the UK. I always think drought tolerant, pollinator, and many natives amongst non invasive non-natives first in my Great Plains US location. But I did pick up a tidbit or two.
February 27, 2020
The Modern Cottage Garden: A Fresh Approach to a Classic Style by Greg Loades is a colorful and informative guide to help eager gardeners each season of the year! The list of plant combinations for home gardens is extensive. I especially enjoyed the section for container planting. The choices for small areas and larger lawn and yards are interesting and dramatic. The new perennial garden has straight lines and will flow with movement during light winds. Thank you so much for the section for the fifty essential plants. This takes the guesswork out of my shopping as I visit my garden center this spring!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this beautifully illustrated book.
Publication Date: July 7, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this beautifully illustrated book.
Publication Date: July 7, 2020
May 20, 2020
When I first picked up this book, I did not think I would like this book. I have a large garden in the cottage garden tradition, but as I read through this book and devoured the photographs, including virtual visits to exsisting garden in this book, I found a nice flow, with ease of gardening in these spaces that fit into this modern world without the loss of the old world style.
The book starts with the history of the cottage garden, evolves into a modern interpretation with grasses and seed heads and low maintenance plants to achieve a beautiful cohesive design. Even with a small garden, the use of potted plants come into their own. The garden wanders through the seasons and introduces plants to suit.
A great book.
The book starts with the history of the cottage garden, evolves into a modern interpretation with grasses and seed heads and low maintenance plants to achieve a beautiful cohesive design. Even with a small garden, the use of potted plants come into their own. The garden wanders through the seasons and introduces plants to suit.
A great book.
August 31, 2020
Thank you to the author, Timber Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As to be expected, this book provides gorgeous photos of cottage gardens - but also a history of the cottage garden style and a fantastic guide to making a more modern version. For most of us, who don't have space for the classic cottage garden, there's a section on downsizing to fit smaller spaces.
As someone who loves to garden, but doesn't always know what they're doing, I found the guidance for integrating modern plants and herbs into a more classic cottage garden concept, plus the seasonal to-do list and the 50 important plants guide enormously useful references.
As to be expected, this book provides gorgeous photos of cottage gardens - but also a history of the cottage garden style and a fantastic guide to making a more modern version. For most of us, who don't have space for the classic cottage garden, there's a section on downsizing to fit smaller spaces.
As someone who loves to garden, but doesn't always know what they're doing, I found the guidance for integrating modern plants and herbs into a more classic cottage garden concept, plus the seasonal to-do list and the 50 important plants guide enormously useful references.
April 4, 2020
Don’t we all daydream about big dreamy witchy cottage gardens, but who has the time to tend to large swaths of borders? In ‘The Modern CottageGarden’ Greg Loades shows us how to get the look even for small spacers. This is a gorgeous photographic account of English garden design that can be utilised in the Southern Hemisphere too. Please be aware that some of the’ essential’ plants listed are invasive weeds outside of the Uk, so check your own zone first.
*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the RC
*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the RC
Read
July 29, 2020I expected this book to be full of understandably beautiful pictures of lush gardens, and it has that, but there's a surprising amount of practical information for novice gardeners and small-scale gardeners. One section covers gardening for each season with checklists of things to do. There's information on pruning, watering, and moving plants. Would be a good choice for anyone interested in the cottage garden or gardening in general, including container gardening. The pictures agre gorgeous and the instructions easy to understand.
August 28, 2020
This is such a beautiful, informative, and down to earth approach to the cottage garden. I am so happy to have read this book-thank you so much to the publisher. The hard back would be even better as, even on the net galley app on my iPhone, the photos felt so alive. I am planning on becoming a flower farmer next year so have been going down the rabbit hole of garden design. This was a delight and a great resource. I give all my praises to the author and photographer. Well done!
Thank you to Netgalley and Timber Press for the galley.
Thank you to Netgalley and Timber Press for the galley.
September 17, 2020
I am so glad I saw this book on NetGalley and asked to review it! I have not read the entire book yet, but its not the kind of book you will likely read from beginning to end - it's a book to keep and refer to throughout the gardening year. While it showcases many gardens, it also gives a lot of practical advice and information for those who love to garden. I found a lot of helpful advice for some of the problems I have found in my perennial garden. It has great ideas for the pairing of plants. Beautiful photography!
August 22, 2021
Enjoyed this book so much. It was full of helpful information defining cottage gardens and modern perennial borders, with workable ideas to combine the two. The only downside for me was that, as an American reader, I was unfamiliar with many of the English terms or names commonly used for plants that I even know (calling yarrow by its Latin achillea was not typical for me, and what is a pot marigold?!). That made it hard to put the great ideas actually into practice or into plans on paper. But it was still a well researched and well written book, and I loved the photos!
April 11, 2023
Excellent guidebook for building your own cottage garden including advice for all seasons, plants to consider, suggestions for different types of spaces including small gardens and container gardens. Not to mentioned it is a joy to read, the author's voice carries you through start to finish with humor, knowledge, and a casual friendly tone. This is not a dry educational text nor a long winded self congratulatory garden bragging; it's a guide, a conversation, and a reference you can check back with as time goes on. After reading a library copy cover to cover I'm buying my own ;)
April 16, 2020
Like many gardening books, The Modern Cottage Garden shines in its photography over text. While some of the chapters are a bit too wordy, the chapters on container gardening, planning a garden to enjoy throughout all four seasons, and the A-Z guide of essential cottage garden plants were very enjoyable. Overall, an enjoyable book to spend a few hours with, dreaming of nice weather and tinkering in the garden.
September 10, 2020
This was a charming book both in writing and photography. The Britishisms might put off some readers, but not many. The author demonstrates not only the means but the appeals of combining traditional British garden styles with some modern plants and sensibilities. As an amateur gardener I found this a worthy book even in tight-budget times, and had a request from a patron for it. I expect this book to find its way into the hands of many of our urban and suburban gardeners.
April 13, 2021
I liked the ideas and the styles discussed in the book. I'm not a big fan of container gardening, but there is a section devoted to container gardening and gardening in small spaces. I would have rated the book higher if it weren't all about cottage gardens in the UK; I thought everyone had a cottage garden in the UK. I had to look up all of the flowers and grasses I liked to be sure they are native to my area. The pictures were beautiful, and it wasn't all about roses, thank the Gods.
March 17, 2020
Beautiful photos. A great exploration of the history of the cottage garden style and an even greater guide to making a more modern version. Good coffee table book and also as a guide book. There’s even a section on downsizing it to a smaller scale for those who want the look but don’t have the space to have a classic cottage garden.
April 8, 2020
Inspirational dive into the crossroads of the classic cottage garden and the modern perennial garden. Loades clearly has lots of knowledge, which he presents passionately in this book. I loved the photographs, and I especially loved the section at the back outlining some plant candidates (I wanted MORE of that).
December 18, 2023
Absolutely gorgeous photos of some really incredible gardens.
The text is really generic and pretty useless. Photos aren't consistently labeled. I would have liked IDs of more of the plants shown. The book is totally Anglo-centric, which, fine, but it would have been nice to mention that in the subtitle or something.
The text is really generic and pretty useless. Photos aren't consistently labeled. I would have liked IDs of more of the plants shown. The book is totally Anglo-centric, which, fine, but it would have been nice to mention that in the subtitle or something.
December 20, 2021
I want to check this out at library again. Especially want to immolate his periwinkle painted containers & benches tying his small walled in garden together. I also like the mixing of ornamental grasses with more traditional English cottage garden plants.
January 25, 2022
I found this book to be so helpful! Definitely felt inspired and can’t wait for spring. The author’s easy way of explaining how he set up a small cottage garden makes my own feel really attainable. Plus, beautiful photos and a great list of plant ideas. Love it!
April 2, 2023
While I don’t garden in the UK- there were still a lot of gems in this book in terms of tips, tricks, and general schemes. The book was well organized and I appreciated the varieties of gardens looked at. I can’t wait to put what I learned into practice.
May 29, 2020
I enjoyed the seasonal photos and the check list of things to do in each season. Everything is low maintenance gardening.
November 27, 2020
Nice balance of technical advice and pretty pictures.
January 10, 2021
Beautiful as well as useful for the budding home garden designer.
March 24, 2021
I guess I've learned that I'm more of a "traditional cottage garden" girl.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews