{"id":387,"date":"2014-03-05T14:34:47","date_gmt":"2014-03-05T22:34:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/?page_id=387"},"modified":"2026-07-29T13:03:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T20:03:34","slug":"cottage-garden","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/gardening\/greenbank-educational-garden\/cottage-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"Cottage Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Characteristics of the Cottage Garden are indicative of the 1920s era \u2013 a combination of casual, whimsical, and useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you enter the garden from the west, on your right are Viburnum shrubs that provide foliage and a canopy for understory plants. On the left are plants that show their beauty in the winter: Yellow Twig Dogwood, Beautyberry Bush, Witch Hazel (Hamamelis<\/em>), and the contorted look of the Weeping Cedar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wander the pathways and you will discover “islands” of plantings. Small gardens like these islands allow you to try a variety of plant combinations, or to feature a favorite bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the middle of the garden is a child-safe waterfall providing the sound of a waterfall without the danger of a pond. Across from the pond are some unusual trees: a Smoke Tree, a Peanut Butter Tree, and a Strawberry Tree. The latter two trees were chosen for their name interest for children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An espalier apple tree creates the effect of a boundary fence in addition to producing fruit. Planted among perennial flowers, fruit trees and vegetables provide both food and seasonal color in the same garden space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garden Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • During design, outline planting beds with a hose or rope to provide a digging guide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Plant in drifts by using just a few species but massing them in groups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use drain rocks under the eaves of a building to prevent backsplash.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Add old farm tools, implements, or other \u201cfound\u201d objects to the garden to provide interest, focal points, and whimsy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Add brightness to shady areas by using variegated foliage and chartreuse plants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Remember that drought tolerant plants still need water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Characteristics of the Cottage Garden are indicative of the 1920s era \u2013 a combination of casual, whimsical, and useful. As you enter the garden from the west, on your right […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"parent":40,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_wsuwp_accessibility_report":null},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/387"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=387"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/387\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113018,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/387\/revisions\/113018"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}