When I had our front landscaping designed I asked Don, the architect, what he would recommend for the south side of the house. I put some boxwood towers and drift roses over there a few years ago, but the roses had gotten a virus. It was disappointing, but I was ready to start fresh. I loved the idea of peonies or lilacs…something that would give wonderful flowers to cut. Don said “well, why don’t you do a cutting garden? I would guess you like having flowers inside your home, and the south side of the house is the perfect spot for one.”
What a great idea! This is why you work with professionals, because they think of things you never even dream of. Right away I started researching and scheming. A cutting garden is a space used to grow flowers suitable for flower arranging. Depending on your needs, this can look similar to a vegetable garden – where form is less important – but you can also lay them out to feel like a traditional border. It has been surprisingly difficult to find information on putting together the cutting garden I envisioned I probably should have made another appointment with Don but I have been reminded how much I love learning. I’ve been soaking up YouTube videos, new Instagram accounts, and books my mom had on the subject.
Because we’re on a corner, the south side of our home is exposed to the street. Flowers are always beautiful, but my hope is that this can feel like a landscape border, intentional and trim. The flower I knew I wanted most was the peony. I know they’ve been having a moment the last few years, but you really can’t beat the fragrance or beauty. And they require very little work. Then I started thinking about when flowers bloom and how to stretch the garden throughout the summer. I have planted peonies and poppies for late spring blooms, foxglove for late spring/early summer, baby’s breath, lupine, liastris, hollyhocks, echinacea for summer, gladioli and dahlias for late summer. Because I’m thinking of the overall look, I tried to choose colors that fit a scheme I prefer. I love flowers that feel softer in color…pinks, purples, whites, blues…
I probably should have started planning in the winter, but I decided to not let that deter me. My perfectionism wants this to be lush, beautiful, and full of flowers right now, but I’m trying to show myself some grace and call this a test year. I bought a pretty little notebook gridded pages that are weatherproof – perfect for plotting things out as I go that is great for keeping track of what’s been placed where. It also has notes I took from the books I’ve read linked below. The peonies and foxglove were the only plants I bought. Everything else was from seed, bulb, or tuber. It’s a much more cost effective way to fill a space, but it sure takes even more patience. It wasn’t until I had purchased everything and was trying to lay things out that I realized some of these plants won’t flower until next spring! The idea of waiting a few years for shrubs and bushes to fill in is not new to me. But it doesn’t mean I’m any more patient. Interior renovations require patience in the planning and execution, but when they’re done you have the finished look – hopefully the vision you set out to create. The patience it takes to wait for a garden to reach maturity is a whole other level.
FLORET FARM CUT FLOWER GARDEN | RITE IN THE RAIN NOTEBOOK
The first dahlia to pop up on day 3 and the growth on day 7.
It doesn’t look like much now, but dahlias, gladioli, hollyhock, and lupine are starting to pop up. Once the plants have all made their way through the ground I’ll put down some mulch, which will make a big visual difference. For now I’ll find joy in heading out to see the growth that happens overnight and be dreaming of arrangements come summer!
What are your favorite flowers to grow?
Read here for Cutting Garden Take Two.
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Peonies, roses, hydrangeas, faux indigo baptiste (this also leaves a lovely structural seed head for use in arrangements) amaryllis, and oriental lilies for their cut flowers, hosta, lambs ear, elephant ear and fern for their greenery.
I’ll have to look into some of the other ones you mentioned, some great options for greenery too – thanks Pamela!
It will be beautiful.
Would love to know if you have any advice on how to keep the bunnies away. As adorable as they are, they have managed to eat up many of the flowering plants I’ve planted (including roses 🙂 ). After 7 years of interior renovations, we’re finally pulling together our yard so I’m enjoying following along on your journey.
I had an issue with them in the backyard and was told to use several different products or hair! The hair could be from a brush or from your pet. That has seemed to work for me and was free!
One great addition to a cutting garden is lady’s mantle. The small green flowers look great with peonies, roses, basically everything! And the leaves are so pretty, especially after it has rained.
Thank you, I’ll look into it!
I love fresh flowers and have several areas in my garden I cut from but after being inspired by Floret Farm I’m planning to do a cutting garden in the next year
Some of my favorites are: Phlox, Daisy, coneflower, Zinnia & Dahlia
So fun! Yes, it’s so nice to have fresh flowers, and this is much cheaper than buying them!
How fun! I love watching Big Dreams Small Places. Set in England; It documents different people making their dream gardens come to life with a little guidance from a professional. It takes them months of hard work & planning. So fun to see end result. Can’t wait to see yours in full bloom someday. 🌸🌸😄
Monty Don is a favorite and I absolutely loved that show!
I’m sure it will look incredibly beautiful, but I agree that it is definitely hard to wait.
My good friend works at Rite in the Rain! He just printed a set of scavenger hunt cards for my class to use. It’s such a cool product!
How fun! I’d love to try more of their products, the quality is wonderful!
A cutting garden is perfect for you!
I’m hopeful I will love the end result and the process too!
I almost planted some foxgloves (love their shape) this year until I read they are poisonous to kids and pets 😬 opted for hydrangea instead! Love our peonies and wish they lasted longer! I’ve always had good luck with dahlias too!
And yes, they are poisonous, but I figured on the side of the house where none of us spend much time could be ok. I’m doing hydrangeas on the east side, can’t wait for those too!
I forgot to mention bulbs! I’ve gotten several different types from Costco and they’ve all done awesome with huge blooms. It will be so pretty when it fills out…but the waiting is hard! 🌷🌸🌻
I’m glad to hear that, I definitely want to do tulips in the spring! Yes, the patience required isn’t my favorite. 😉
Not sure if you like a very loose style or not but foxgloves self seeds everywhere. I had some in a front bed and have since ripped them out. They didn’t stay where I wanted them and ended up looking very messy.
Along with the lady’s mantle I also recommend coral bells (heuchera) – the original green type. These have sprays of tiny pink flowers that are nice to add to a bouquet. Not sure of your zoning but Bells of Ireland add a nice green contrast to bouquets. I haven’t grown them but a bouquet stand in my area uses them.
I second Nicole’s recommendation of zinnias. Very easy to grow from seed and have loads of flowers and many different styles. Quite a bit cheaper than dahlia tubers. My area you need to dig up dahlia and gladioli tubers every fall and try to store them for replanting.
Excited to see how this works out for you. Flower gardens are a lot of work but very rewarding.
I don’t mind it a bit loose here and am hoping the foxglove kind of spread a bit! Thanks for all of the recommendations, I appreciate them!
I love roses, especially the fragrant ones. Tulips are pretty but don’t last long. There are so many flowers to choose from that when my husband and I go to a nursery we what some of everything. No matter what you do it will be pretty.
I love roses too, but unfortunately since we had some here and they had a virus, I’ve been told I won’t be able to plant anymore in this area for a long time. Yes, I would love to bring the all home!
A cutting garden is such a wonderful idea! We have space on the south side of our house too and you’ve inspired me to get planting! My favorite flowers are blue hydrangeas, peonies, and garden roses. My husband surprised me this year and bought 2 white climbing rose bushes from the famous David Austin nursery. I cannot wait to see them bloom!
I love hearing that! Oh, I love roses so much! I wish we wouldn’t have had that virus, I would love to have roses in this garden otherwise. Best of luck!