According to House & Garden, the English cottage garden has undergone significant evolution over the past centuries, shaping modern gardening practices. Despite its rustic charm, the term "cottage garden" evokes romantic imagery of flowers cascading over thatched roofs and quaint countryside scenes.
Originally born out of necessity for self-sufficiency, these gardens have experienced numerous revivals, from the Arts and Crafts movement to recent showcases at the Chelsea Flower Show. They serve as a foundation for naturalistic planting design, embodying an informal and haphazard aesthetic.
In the nineteenth century, the cottage garden transitioned into a stylized form, with flowers taking center stage within the wild framework. Figures like William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll praised its artistic merits, emphasizing the beauty found in simplicity and spontaneity. This lack of rigid planning allows the flowers to tell their own story, creating a unique charm that embraces freedom from rules.