Cottage Garden Design Masterclass - Plant Selection 

CORRECTION!!!!! Hemerocallis fulva (orange daylily) is not a native plant to Maryland (eastern seaboard). It is classed as an invasive species. It appears so often in natural settings here that I mistook it for a native.

What the hell is this channel ?? I randomly clicked on the thumbnail expectiong a boring gardening video and ended up slapped with unbelievable filming, editing and a gentleman with spotless taste. And that house is unbelievable !!

Wow, I live in England, the birthplace of Cottage Gardens, and I’m also RHS qualified (Royal Horticultural Society) but I have to tell you that I have NEVER, EVER, seen such a spot-on presentation on how to achieve the cottage garden look! Your video is without a doubt the best I’ve ever seen on the subject. Grant it, you didn’t go into much detail about including edibles, herbs etc, but there’s only so much content one can cover in a short video. I even took notes on the Plant Forms, because it’s so beautifully condensed ! Uma apresentação maravilhosa!

I really enjoy the new format, Siloe. The combination of your artistic background with your greenthumb skills makes this series much more informative than other gardening shows. Keep it up!

Congratulations! As a Brit with my own cottage garden in rural Wales it's a treat to see a US gardener with a firm understanding of how cottage gardens work. One notable absence (although you might have covered this elsewhere) is edibles. True cottage gardens with the purely decorative plants are interspersed with vegetables, e.g. chard, spring (green) onions, broccoli, globe artichokes etc., as well as edible flowers to sprinkle over salads, such as pot marigolds (calendulas), violas, chive flowers and marjoram/oregano flowers. That said, few UK gardeners do that now so you're actually on trend. Great video, beautifully filmed and edited!

I’m always impressed with your productions Siloe. Soooo many different angles and good photography. Another masterpiece…and sometimes barefoot! 💚🙏🏻👍🎬🎥✌️💪🏻Thanks for all your work and passion.

This series has by far the best cottage garden information that I have found on RU-vid. I have a lot of bare root perennials ordered, lots of seed packets on standby, fence pickets and posts piled up, and an arbor waiting around to get started with my own cottage garden as soon as the ground is workable in MA. The rendering of what looks like a climbing rose over your steps looks fantastic. You should go with that, or if that location doesn't work out, an arbor with a climbing rose on one side and a clematis on the other over a path/entry *somewhere* would really complete the look and feel inviting. Looking forward to the next episode!

This was a MASSIVE effort on your part. Expertly done with amazing visuals breaking down the different forms of plants and what purpose they serve in a cottage garden. I didn't even think about parallax... but of course that's what creates intimacy. Like a camera trying to focus on a subject, your eye ends up doing the same thing, darting between a lacy cosmos and a panicle of rose blossoms or the seed head of a blue gramma grass. BRAVO! I will direct my customers to this video and your channel. It may highlight the cottage aesthetic, but these concepts can fit any style.

We all have to look after our pollinators, this type of planting is a real help.

Congratulations, you found a niche topic that you're very knowledgeable in, has little information online, and presented it masterfully. That's the RU-vid formula, in less than a year you'll hit a million subs. Keep up the good work!

This really should be one of the most popular gardening channels. Absolutely beautiful graphics and visuals in these videos convey a mood that no one else is offering here on RU-vid

Siloe, thank you! Last Saturday I discovered your RU-vid channel , and it came at the most incredibly perfect time. You see, my Father passed away last week, and I found your video on how to plant a cottage garden when I was looking for migraine remedies after crying so much. I watched your video, then another, and another, and it lifted my spirits so much. I was already in debate whether or not to turn our front yard grass into a meadow, but your advice on how to do it and make it functioning and beautiful seemed to be a sign that in doing so it would be a perfect tribute in my Papa’s memory. So thank you good sir, you are a treasure! How I describe you to people about how wonderful you are- you are the Bob Ross of gardening. Eternally grateful!✨

Siloe, you never disappoint! This was amazing. I love how you also shared some of the history of cottage gardens and compared them to different art styles. I've had the pleasure of visiting Anne Hathaway's Cottage garden in Statford-Upon-Avon. It was incredible. Such a wonderful contrast to the typical "lawn" front yard. Thank you for the gift of this video! ~Jennifer

Wow this is incredible! Just so impressed by all the content, graphics, editing and the formatting details of the video! Better than all the TV programs!

I’m always knocked out to see your new uploads. The visual storytelling is seriously the best and you have a great way of sharing information that people can use to make their spaces lovely. Love seeing the house interiors, it’s dreamy and can’t wait to see your garden evolve this year. Thanks for another great video! ✌🏼

An outstanding video on creating a cottage garden and the drawings are superb.

you have no idea how much i've been waiting for this! i've been checking to see if you've uploaded a video almost every day 😂 thank you! now off i go to watch~

You are a true artist. In your home, your life style, and your gardening. Thank you for sharing this beautiful content with us!

I've been binge watching all of your gardening video's and I don't even have a garden 😂! It's just so calming and relaxing to watch...

I really enjoyed this! As an artist, as well as a gardener, I love how you uniquely describe/teach what you are designing. ♥️🌷

Thank you for taking the time to do a multi year look at building a new space. I'm starting from scratch, in a house we bought in October that had been completely remdeled. Part of the remodeling was tearing out any landscaping that did exist and throwing in a couple clumps of monkey grass. Watching your videos has been a good reminder that I should approach this as a long term project, but I also have the impatience of a toddler. I want flowers! Now! And a productive vegetable garden to boot! Keep up the good work - you are the best of RU-vid.

The most important thing is to keep planting. Thank you for beautiful illustrations and wealth of information.

It’s only a matter of time before HGTV tries to pick you up! Yours is the best gardening show 💖💖

Impeccable! I've often read that in the third year, cottage gardens really start coming into their own. This year should be very exciting in your gardens! They are quite lovely already, and your home interior is also exquisite. Everything together creates quite a beautiful picture! Thank you for sharing it with us all. It is quite a gift!

I always love your videos. They are beautiful and well made! It gives me ideas for a cottage style garden around the house. I just need to change the windows before so everything won't be crushed by the renovation crew!

I live in an old stone house built in 1732 in Chester County, PA, and the cottage garden aesthetic matches my home perfectly. Thank you for all of your tips! ❤️

Siloe, I've been watching your channel over the years, and suddenly I find myself also living in upstate ny. We came from southern Idaho and it's *cold* here!! 😂 But your channel makes me feel like if I work at it, I can get a kick ass garden going and I'm really thankful to you for that. You've made a space where folks can see where their gardening endeavors could take them if I they set their minds to it, and I think that's so cool. We just bought a house here too, so this video is extra timely! Going from gardening in the high desert to the NY mountains is quite the change lol. Thank you so much for all your work, it really means a lot to me. 💜

Bow down to you Siloe. Such a masterful video and garden plan!

I really enjoyed this video! I feel very reminded of my parent's garden. When I was young, I felt like my parents were kind of lazy with their garden, but with time, I understood how much love they had for nature to just let it run its course sometimes. Nowadays, I cherish their knowledge and care and I aspire to have a garden like theirs (and yours) some day. I can now see how much time, patience and knowledge it takes to grow such a natural paradise! If I told my parents that their garden was peak cottage core, they would probably look at me funny lol! Edit: I forgot to say: My favorite plant in my parents' garden must be their wisteria. It grows in a narrow alleyway between the garage and the house that gets almost no direct sunlight, but in the summer, it turns into the most beautiful pathway.

This is my second video from you, and I have learnt plenty already. We bought a house last summer, and now, as the planting season is approaching, I'd like to make our garden wildly beautiful. At the same time, I worry a bit because I am a zero-level gardener and only taking my first steps. But I will keep learning. Thank you for sharing your art with the world. Love from Ukraine!

I’m obsessed with series. You have done such an incredible job at entertaining and educating us on creating our own dream cottage gardens. I will be looking to your videos for my design this year! Keep up the incredible work!!

“A bit enthusiastic” - every gardener’s reasoning for purchases. 😄 Excellent video!

Siloé, thank you so much for this. I've bought my first home - 100 years old, stone, in need of love and yet so filled to bursting with it - and am trying to make my own decisions about how this cottage garden will flourish. Your multi-modal approach to sharing your process is lovely, accessible, joyful. I'm deeply grateful. A question for you: would lilacs be more of a bushy plant, or a weeping pinnacle? We had them in our tiny yard when I was young, and they grew tall enough to hang the way you're describing pinnacles do. But I've also seen them pruned as bushy. Every year on mother's day, my older brother would hold my hand just before the sunrise as we crept out across the grass to clip a few fragrant gems before racing back inside, dew between our toes, to wake our mom with sweet smelling flowers and kisses. She passed away this past Christmas, so I'd like them to have pride of place in the garden I'm going to grow.

Beautiful! Everything about you video is just perfect! And a book on your table with those botanical illustrations is wonderful! Thank you

I almost skipped your video and I am so glad I didn’t. Your lifestyle is beautiful, is what I am working towards. I’ll save your video to rewatch and make notes as I work on my garden this year.

Thank you Siloé. I learned a lot. It helps as I’m still working on my flower beds and choices. 👍🌹🌾🌻🌺🌸

Wow! This is a master piece! I’m feeling really crappy today and this video is exactly what I needed. What a masterpiece 🌟🌟🌟

I just love your videos, they always make my day. As many people already mentioned - the artistry, thorough information, everything is just the highest quality. Once again - very well done on the video and your garden, it's beautiful. Can't wait to see more.

What a beautifully made video ! Glad to see you used John Singer Sargent’s paintings and how nice to display them in one of your frames on the wall ! I’m sure you love his work as much as I do - Joachin Sorolla is another favorite of mine. I really admire your gardening skills and video making talent. I’m sure this garden is going to be spectacular. Congratulations on your new house. 🌷

Every frame is an artistic composition and a door to more gentle and garden world. Thank you for sharing your gifts.

This video has me so excited for this year's garden!! I have been so inspired by your cottage garden videos that I have a large plot laid out just waiting for seedlings to be put in.

Watching your garden evolve has been a joy - I have been enjoying the journey. Thank you for sharing your creative gifts with us! Here in Colorado, drought, windstorms, and other erratic weather have taken their toll on my garden this past year. But I'm looking forward to a spring of renewal and rejuvenation. Your videos provide long-distance inspiration and encouragement. 🌻

The best produced GARDEN channel on RU-vid! Thanks for all the great work you do.

Love your videos! Definitely has me thinking in different ways on how I would be grouping my native plants as a transition our home from the big box store plants from the previous owner to all natives for our region

I’m loving this series. Especially during the drab Ohio winter. Plants bought for my cottage garden are. BUSHY: roses & hydrangeas COLUMNAR: lupines, yarrow, blazing star SCHUPTURAL: lilies WISPY: babies breathe, poppies VINING: yet to be determined SPRAWLER: lavender, thyme WEEPING PANICLE: climbing roses

Hi Siloe, I love the mix of videos you produce. The deep dive into history and fun facts about different plants is interesting. I learn so much from these videos. I appreciate that you share your process along with both failures and successes. That is real life in the garden. :D I know you want feedback about what viewers want/like about your videos. Honestly, I like them all. I can get quick "how-tos" from other places, but nobody else combines art, history, and practical advice in gardening videos the way you do. That is what I come to your channel to see. (Your short videos are great, too.)

The consideration for people from the tropics is really appreciated

Hearing that you don't need specific plants for a cottage garden and the shapes are more important is very nice for me. I live in Australia and really wanted to start a cattage garden but i was hoping to mix native Australian plants such as grevileas and banksias into it for the native bees and insects, so its nice to know that i can still keep the cottage garden look with them

This was a great tutorial Siloe! Congratulations on 100K subscribers! You deserve it! Those Sarah Bernard peonies are gorgeous and aromatic.

Thank you for another wonderful and helpful video! I always look forward to watching them. I'm in the process of designing and redesigning beds around my house, so seeing this video now is great timing. Congratulations on your subscriber milestone!

Your videos are incredibly helpful and inspiring. The key is that you get me excited to give it a shot myself with no real experience growing. I’m a new homeowner and grew some veggies in pots last year with some success and that has fueled my interest in really making this home mine.

This is amazing! I’m spending the first full year with my new garden and this is helping so much. Despite all my research, I hadn’t seen such a clear breakdown into plant categories, and it’s really revolutionizing my plans! Your patience in taking all this footage and waiting til now to upload it is incredible, and so helpful. 🙏🙇‍♀️ It was so inspiring to see it all come together over time, and seeing how you balance not spending too much money but also having a full garden your first year! Thank you so much for your patience and clarity in teaching all of this. I’m gonna go be a patron!

Oh my gosh, Siloe, this was EXACTLY the kind of tutorial I've been looking for!! THANK YOU!!! I can't wait to see the next video in this series!!!

I am a landscape and garden planner. i like your style, your approach to nature and the way you make videos, thank you for your work. greetings from austria.

Came across your channel by happenstance...wonderful content and weaving art and how it juxtaposes within the garden is so much more in line with my garden philosophy...so thank you! for sharing and having such wonderful content!! My advice for the 'weeping' plant would be to the left of the front steps in a rounded garden bed that you could then add a sweeping path to the other side of your home (which is so wonderful by the way). At my old home in Illinois, we created a Potager garden, which was both functional and aesthetically pleasing - both key elements for me still - even after moving here to the mountains in the Pacific Northwest. I am so pleased you are implementing that style into the Cottage Garden as well. peace + blessings-Anne Marie

Thank you for the focus on the form of plants rather than the specific varieties. I live in central Florida and the cottage garden style just makes my heart sing. I am slowly figuring out how to achieve the feel in my own gardens, aside from my edible gardening which more often than not takes priority.

Your videos are incredible and I love the format. You have inspired me to start a cottage garden in my front yard :)

You nailed it again, Siloe! The amount of time and long-term planning that goes into these videos is incredible and it's certainly paying off. I love the sketchy animations. What software are you using for that?

Yay!!!! 😁😁😁

An artist and gardener, what better combination is there on this earth.

This videos is beautiful. And I learn so much when you talk about garden design! Stepping us through from pictures of established gardens, to plant images and categories, to actual plants in the ground is so, so helpful.

Glad you include plants for tropical climate. Hope you can give list of zone 10-12 plant to achieve cottage style garden

Thank you, this video is very helpful. You really have a talent for making beautiful spaces. I can only hope to have a garden as beautiful as yours someday.

Love to watch your video, also as someone with no garden. You make your video really cinematic. I repeat myself, love to watch!

You are truly an artist, and I love that your garden is a co-creation with nature, the plants, and all of life.

Your channel has come such a long way, it’s amazing to see the difference. Awesome

What an inspiration! So stylish, so full of character. I love accidentally finding humans like this, who give me a real charge of energy and joy. Great work with this channel, thank you!

I'm going to get a notebook and pen, and I'm going to watch again!

This is just fabulous. Going to have to watch several times through and take notes. Thanks, Sileo!

Awesome video Siloe! Without the awareness of design, when you’re looking at the garden you know “something” is wrong, but it’s wretchedly difficult to put your finger on just what. You’ve gone that extra level deeper where so many garden shows miss the point we’re struggling for. Love it, thank you so much. What about a Cornus kousa ‘Chinese Dogwood”, Robinia decaisneana ‘Pink Wisteria Tree’, or a lilac shrub/tree of some sort?

This series just keeps getting better. As a non-garden owner, I'm living vicariously through yours. :)

I couldn't click on this video fast enough! It was everything that I needed on a Texas "winter" day at 70°. I want so badly to plant, but in about 48 hours we'll be back to freezing lows. Thank you for giving the attributes to the plant structures, so that I can be on the lookout for what will work best in my growing zone!

It kind of fell in place for me now when you spoke about the different shapes and structures, amazing ❣ You seem to have a really beautiful home, thank you for including those clips as they are another level of inspiration Looking forward to the next episode 🌻

These videos are masterful! The amount of love and time put into them is immediately apparent! The editing and presentation is absolutely gorgeous. I am so excited to see more!

I'm pausing halfway thru here to say that while the information is spot on and amazing, the videography of your posts is absolutely breathtaking. My god man, whoever edits your videos deserves some serious praise (and if it's you, MAJOR kudos!!!). Anyway, this is giving me a lot of relief because you're doing with your garden what I am with mine (starting out with perennials in specific areas and slowly adding more as the seasons go on), but I'll be favoriting this one for future reference. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!

Cottage gardening is my favorite style. I love the coziness and free spirit form. You can pack in so many plants, veggies, herbs, trees shrubs and flowers and they all work together. The challenge for me is to keep finding new spots for my favorite: dahlias. Thanks so much for the information and inspiration. PS: You home is so beautiful, would love a tour. 💚

I’ve been preparing my front yard for a new cottage garden for months. This video is so full of great information! As a RU-vid creator of 14 years, I just geek out over how well you communicate the information and how yummy your videos look stylistically. You’re a new favorite!

Thank you for your hard work and making such a beautiful garden and beautiful video for us! You are truly a gifted artist!

This is the best cottage garden video ever !! The visuals are stunning, loved the graphics and comparison to various paintings. Clear explanation about soil, water and sunlight requirements for each plant and so beautifully recorded over many months. Thank you very much for making this wonderful video.

I totally agree that a true cottage garden is a slow accumulation, a conversation with your plants, finding their place of growth!

Muito obrigado por mais um vídeo. Como sempre, excelente qualidade técnica e conteúdo.

Foi você quem fez as animações das plantas no projeto? Ficaram ótimas! Fez elas individualmente ou usou a biblioteca de um programa?

I feel transported into the 1800’s watching your videos.

I was just anticipating this video last night while watching you previous one. Your old cottage garden video was my first introduction a few years ago. The way you breakdown the types of plant textures has given my such an understanding of how to further plan my cottage garden. Thank you so much. You’re home and garden is stunning!

Wow! You are so creative! Not just all the work you’ve put in to create a beautiful cottage garden, but how you correlate garden styles to art. Of course your home and the way you dress speak volumes on your sense of style and creativity. I’m in awe. I’m in the process of making some changes to my garden this spring, so thank you for all this information. I’m here for the long haul. 🙏🌸

I feel guilty watching all this mesmerizing content for free.

I am a simple person that just witnessed a highly complex and absolutely beautiful and genius video production. AMAZING.

Thanks for hanging in there. I remember back at your start the difficulties with RU-vid. You have some of the best produce videos on RU-vid. I love your story telling and injections of interesting facts. I wondered if you have a similar channel for painting?

Really charming and amusing, including your look, your style of dress, your tools and pitchers - a time capsule. You offer subtle methods on how to work with nature, you’re completely unique.

I love how much effort you put in your videos!

Thank you for this informational and lovely video. This is one video I wish could be a full-length hour documentary; I honestly didn't want it to end.

Gorgeous!!!

Thanks! I feel a lot better about slowing crafting a space of my own.

So cool!!! Love this!!

absolutely amazing !!!!!

I am a lazy gardener. I lived in an apartment for many years and didn't have a yard. I bought a packets of wild flowers and planted them in pots on my balcony. They're not perenials, but they drop seeds at the end of the growing season and come back the next year. The colors are beautiful. A few medium sized pots made the balcony look like a meadow.

Beautiful!

How absolutely wonderful!

Fabulous episode!

As always another amazing video.