While we want a wayward and natural cottage garden, we also want our guests to make it to our front door without being eaten by plants or falling into a pile of nettles!

We spent the past weekend clearing the front garden with a plan to start from scratch. We’ve laid one side to lawn and added a bench as this is the perfect spot to watch the sunset from and to chat to our neighbours as they pass by. The other side has been planted with new young lavendar plants, a lovely yellow climbing rose and a clematis. We plan to eventually put in plenty more, including digitalis, agapanthus, delphiniums, michaelmas daisies, phlox, sweet williams and alliums.

Do you have any other ideas on nice plants to try in this space?