"Already planned" cottage gardens available anywhere?

I'm particularly interested in plans or plants with plans that I could purchase that would do well in zone 9. If one or two plants won't, that's ok, but so many of the beautiful plans that I see don't do well in zone 9.

Anyone got any ideas?

I just love looking at the pictures here, but I can't seem to make any decisions about what to plant - and where!

Jo

Jo, I'm tickled by your title "Already Planned"! I'm sure you'll agree that cottage gardens aren't planned - they just happen. There are many traditional cottage garden flowers that are rated to zone 9:

hollyhock
foxglove
sweet william
tall phlox
lupine
daylilies
bleeding heart
coneflower
rudbeckia
kniphofia
some peonies
roses
astilbe
penstemon
candytuft
balloon flower
ferns

Hope this helps!

Thanks! I'm familiar with some of these, but was unaware that hollyhock, tall phlox, foxglove and lupine were rated to zone 9. I suspect I should have planted those much earlier for spring bloom. I'm pretty sure they wilt in the heat. Well, there's always next spring!

I adore snapdragons, but have never bothered planting them for early spring blooms. They just wilt so quickly around here. I have found angelonia, which is a pretty decent substitute, though!

Hi, Jo-- Interesting challenge to have a traditional cottage garden in a Zone 9 Texas garden. I imagine the high heat and dryness would wreak havoc on the kinds of flowers common in the north...

High Country Gardens offers some alternative plants and flowers that are a bit more Xeric and especially for your region that you may want to consider.

They even offer some pre-planned gardens that are quite sylish and beautiful: http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/browse/gardens/

'High Country Gardens' is highly regarded for its environmental sensitivity, too.

Oh, my goodness! High Country Gardens looks like a real blessing for someone like me. Thank you!

Do have experience with this company? I hope they have nice plants.

Going back to look some more. :)

Jo

I've ordered from High Country - when I lived in Phoenix. Well packed, healthy plants. Didn't care too much for their prices, but you can rest assured you'll get good plants for the cash. If I remember correctly, the "inferno strip" garden is a great one, lol.

I know Bluestone has some pre-planned gardens, I'm not sure which zones, though or if they're easily substituted. I think Parks does some, too - and you can always find books at B&N, Borders and I'd bet Amazon, too that have them.

Good luck!

Jo, Yes, I have ordered from them, too, several years ago and I found them most helpful.

Here's an idea for you to keep costs down: you can study High Country Gardens pre-planned gardens shown on their website and in their catalog for reference, and then make a list of the plants you like/need. Then you can go to your local garden center and some of the big box stores and purchase the same or similar varieties--the plants may be cheaper, it saves on shipping, and you will be able to see the plants. Od course, it's always easy to buy online, and that's always fun but can get a bit pricey!

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/specials.html?id=Qg8bzEWZ

Bluestone Perennials is located in Ohio and I like them a lot, too. Their Butterfly Garden looks like it has many plants suitable for TX with a bit of a 'zone push' (especially if you like to water or have an irrigation system). As you probably know, many parts of TX are havens for Butterflies and a few of their favorite flowers in your garden may bring you loads of pleasure...

In general, if you can identify native plants to your region, they will be easier to grow, especially in your extreme climatic ranges (I assume).

Seed starting is another idea--depending on how excited you are about tending a seedling patch and a garden, there is wide range of seeds to start---

If you really get into gardening, here is a list of seed and plant sources for the Southwest--not too many in TX but a good resource nevertheless!

http://www.thearb.org/seed_sources.htm

And of course, you can always go to the Dave's Garden Round Ups--there is an especially good one in Texas--where members are happy to trade and give away plants. That is how I got many of my garden plants (at the RU here in Ohio). DGers are happy to trade and help out gardeners in the area! (Check out the Texas Forum for more info on this).

You have an interesting project! Keep us posted on your progress! t.

Yay! I like happy endings - or beginnings!

Thanks, folks!

Both Burpee and Parks also have pre-planned gardens as well. Lots of good information. All these nurseries have excellent reps for quality plants as well.