If you're after a cottage garden look, why isn't anyone talking about delphiniums? They're stunning, classic cottage garden, and (like lupins) if you can keep the slugs away, very easy to grow. They can even rebloom if you cut them back after they flower...
My top ten for a summer cottage garden would be:
Roses
Delphiniums
Lupins
Phlox
Lavender
Hardy geraniums
Clematis (with something to climb up!)
Agapanthus
Irises
Kniphofia
But if you ask me tomorrow, the list might be a bit different! Can't live without veronica... or alliums... or hostas... heucheras....
Hmmmm
