I really don't like odd things like lumps of rusty iron, bikes etc in the garden but I'm not into formal hedges and edges either. I have a 'real' cottage garden - things grow into and over each other. It is survival of the fittest, if it doesn't like the conditions I don't bother with it, if it does I let it run riot. I do love a newly mown lawn though, it really sets off the plants

This was the garden in June


and yesterday the postman had to fight his way through the bees on the lavender to reach the front door!



This is my one concession to whimsy - Mrs Goose is actually marking the rod point to the drains - we have a sceptic tank not far out of shot.

Carol- I don't think that Team Whimsy needs to have "stuff"!

Love your gardens!!

Thank-you Trish!

Of course the veg garden is different - raised beds and orderly rows fit in well there. The chaos elsewhere just sort of happens, plants that thrive always seem to end up taking up more room than I have allowed at planting. A side benefit of that is there isn't much space for weeds, the downside is the pesky bunnies have somewhere to hide that I can't see.

Carol,
I need to tell you that your cottage gardens are beautiful! I especially love the last shot with the grass....and goose.

Hehe- there's always a trade-off!

Pesky bunnies. I fought those cute critters for a decade when I lived on a golf course here in Phoenix. I had no idea they could swim (when being chased by two Standard Poodles....bet they didn't know they could either) and no idea they could jump 2 ft up into a flower pot to dine on petunias. What a struggle. Good luck to you, Carol.

When you live as I do in the middle of nowhere, the up side is you are surrounded by space, this was one of the fields next door yesterday.

Plus there is an abudance of wildlife to enjoy but The downside of all that is the Pesky bunnies and pigeons that enjoy the open space too!
My Golden Retriever has an agreement with the bunnies, if they run he chases if they stand still so does he - very funny to watch! He's such a softee he wouldn't have a clue what to do with one if he caught it!

I had a driving vacation from London up to north Wales and looped around the west coast back down, but we didn't get as far east as your area. It looks lovely, Carol. Thank you.