Cottage Garden Restoration (2014–2021)

When we bought this home in 2014, the landscape was simple, a lawn, mature hedges, and little seasonal interest. Instead of replacing everything immediately, I chose to let the garden teach me. Over seven years I observed sunlight, soil moisture, seasonal changes, and how each planting matured. Plants were moved rather than discarded. Shrubs were shaped instead of removed. New perennials were added slowly to create layers, texture, and blooms throughout the growing season. The goal was never perfection. It was to create a garden that felt as though it had always belonged there. By the time we sold the house, neighbors often stopped to admire it, and visitors frequently commented on how peaceful the front garden felt. During the sale, the landscape became one of the home’s defining features. That experience continues to shape how I approach every consultation today. I don’t simply recommend plants. I help gardens become better versions of themselves over time.