When you think of a cottage garden you probably picture an abundance of jewel-like flowers, spilling over boundaries, climbing fences and walls, twining in and out of each other and spreading their scents with carefree delight. It is a relaxed and generous place. The great news is that it is also the perfect style of garden for people with busy lifestyles, in town or country. The best cottage gardens are unfussy, happy to look after themselves as much as possible as long as certain basic principles are followed. This book gives gardeners all the information and inspiration they need to create such a garden, wherever you live and whatever your lifestyle. Gardeners with limited time, money, space, and choice of plants originally created cottage gardens. Nowadays we have many more resources at our fingertips than those early gardeners, but if we follow their example we can create glorious gardens in the same spirit, gardens that literally grow themselves.