There is perhaps no style of garden more emotive and evocative than the cottage garden - imbued with a sense of romance, idealized by writers and painters, and so alluring to garden makers all over the world, it has been fashionable for nearly two centuries. But today we often think of it as outdated, old-fashioned, past its sell-by date. The author argues that, in fact, with the hustle and bustle of today's frantic lifestyle, the cottage garden has never been more appropriate. It is the distillation of the essence of what a garden should be - it is a place of beauty, repose and tranquillity. It enables us to get back in touch with the soil, to enjoy the hugely rewarding, but simple pleasures of sowing seed and taking cuttings, of caring for plants and watching them grow and thrive, of harvesting and eating home grown produce. When the work is done, we can relax in a beautiful, sweetly scented floral retreat. The book includes designs and artwork that help fulfil the dream and should inspire readers to create a beautiful and practical cottage garden, in whichever style they prefer. It also features a catalogue of specific plants to achieve each look, with horticultural guidelines, and a list of stockists and suppliers.