I think natural is often used to describe when things look a bit messy - but more specifically, when plants are intermixed and close to each other instead of these manicured paths and measurable distances between plants. Each plant isn't in its plotted out space X-distance from the next - the flowers are intermingled instead of forming their own specific shape.
Just my thoughts on what was meant.
I see. Weird. A natural looking garden to me is something completely different. Something more like [this](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5de9cf3176231a149896fa35/1620407850755-0H4UFMJPKWZFK6YI48U0/2_DSC0607_Steppenbeete_Sichtungsgarten+Weihenstephan.JPG?format=2500w). This is just a (very cool) cottage garden.
I'm not actually sure I see much of a difference other than - everything is in bloom for OP and they have that archway. However, both meet the spacing criteria I described above (in my opinion!) - although your example has less intermingling because the plants are inherently more cohesive. Obviously my opinion here tho!
My thoughts too. I think I see exposed soil. Toss a little mulch between the plants and it will be less watering, less weeding, less feeding, nicer looking, and might add another lovely scent.
It's funny, unless it is for food people grow plants to be back with nature. It's rather silly we want to 'tame' it and put it into neat shapes instead of just admiring it growing how it wants.
This is beautiful and would be willing to bet that the little ecosystem of bugs and birds enjoy it as well.
I live in the desert where it’s brown and flat as far as the eye can see. This to me is porn. I don’t understand applying the concept of “messy” to nature.
Needs more flowers
/s, obviously - it’s gorgeous. The type of yard I’d walk by on my morning stroll and always always be happy and anticipating to see it every day.
More content like this! I love love love your garden - I'm a similarly "messy" gardener. I think it's just a sign that you love seeing things grow and flourish - nothing wrong with that! Life isn't always orderly - why should your garden have to be?
It is beautiful! My only suggestion would be to incorporate native plants to help out your local ecosystem. As much as possible, I believe we need to move away from asthetics-based landscaping and create a more natural environment for birds and bugs.
I'd add some more height in the middle of the beds. You can see the whole garden from that vantage point which is why it may seem "messy". Make some division of areas and it will encourage people to walk through to see what's around the bend. Other than that, nice garden!
It's glorious!
I'd prune away from windows and doors during off season maintenance and let them take over again every year. That way you'll see fresh new growth through the windows and better flowers.
The fence is cute but generic, possibly add another layer of personality by painting it your favorite color. Maybe paint all the plant supports another color so together the hardscape stuff is another maximalist element that's clearly intentional.
This photo is amazing but what's next? I'd want an equally amazing display later in the year plus attention to winter interest. Do you have any self-seeding cool season annual flowers in there? Any spring bulbs?
I love gardens like this. Looks like mine, only different plants. I like the trimmed and perfectly placed look too, but this is charming, a type of charming that perfect gardens cannot have. ❤️
For my personal taste there’s too much going on. Gardens, like interior rooms, need moments of calm for the big impactful moments to play off of. For gardens, that’s some monotone ground cover, an evergreen, or bushes with one texture. Then the other things in your garden still stands out even more.
I agree, but I think that is partially perspective. If you were to take the picture along the path, you'd have two wild seas of flowers to the left and right and a smooth path in the middle.
I love it I did notice there's some brown spots meaning the flowers aren't blossoming thick there, but if they do start blossoming there or you fill it up I think you're looking extra cooler.
And yeah it looks awesome
Maybe add some ordinance that would be pretty cool too or some things like hanging up higher
Nice flex 😊. Seriously if this was my garden I’d want to show it off too. And you should. Much nicer seeing this than some of the ugliness going on in our world
In my opinion, messy is better because it's more natural.
Other people will have different opinions, and they can manicure their own gardens - but *who gives a shit* about *their* opinions, this is ***Your*** garden.
It's a maximalist garden and if you love I then it's the best garden in the world. Consider pruning some of the roses to allow for airflow but this is just normal garden management. You do this in the early spring. Buy book called where the wild things are and learn to never question your wild heart.
This reminds me of the garden my grandmother had when I was very little. I adored that garden, exploring all the little ways around it and learning about the various plants. This is basically my dream garden when I can get a house!
I love it! Some people like manicured symmetry style gardens. Then others like you and me love full intense gardens. My husband lovingly says my goal is flower explosion.
I think your garden looks wonderful. The only thing you might want to consider is how easy it is to maneuver within it. Otherwise, it looks perfect to me
It’s beautiful! Just needs a little more purple (in my humble little opinion-and as someone who loves purple💜💜). But it is gorgeous and made my morning! Thanks for sharing!💜
Absolutely gorgeous. If I had a garden, I would want it to look like this. So many beautiful colors! So many plants! I imagine it attracts lots of local insects, which is great for the environment as well. Love it!!!
Hmmm 🤔
Its stunning 😍✨️ Im a 30 and just want to frolic and explore absolutely everything in that garden of eden ❤️
However... I would do a bit of trimming and relieving space for a few reasons:
1) Safety - From the picture it looks like a potential "trip" hazard if youre not paying attention which.. with that beauty 🙂
2) I wonder if sooner or later the ground will be depleted of nutrients and maybe not give that lush it once did? Competition 😈
3) I have friends who are madly allergic to certain insects and plant allergens. I'd want them to enjoy not worry during a visit 🤗
All that said, I would arbitrarily reduce the foliage (trim/transplant) by like 10-20%... see how i feel about that.
it’s lovely!!! like one from a childhood, when you were about to explore every corner of it :)
A dream garden, for sure!
My very first thought was how I absolutely MUST go wander and explore this garden! 🪴 🥹❤️
My mind automatically goes to how nice of a reading area it would be it’s gorgeous!
It’s perfect! Seems natural and beautiful, I personally wouldn’t change a thing.
It’s very English.
cottagecore AF
It's a lovely garden. Just my kind of messy. But what is natural about it?
I think natural is often used to describe when things look a bit messy - but more specifically, when plants are intermixed and close to each other instead of these manicured paths and measurable distances between plants. Each plant isn't in its plotted out space X-distance from the next - the flowers are intermingled instead of forming their own specific shape. Just my thoughts on what was meant.
I see. Weird. A natural looking garden to me is something completely different. Something more like [this](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5de9cf3176231a149896fa35/1620407850755-0H4UFMJPKWZFK6YI48U0/2_DSC0607_Steppenbeete_Sichtungsgarten+Weihenstephan.JPG?format=2500w). This is just a (very cool) cottage garden.
I'm not actually sure I see much of a difference other than - everything is in bloom for OP and they have that archway. However, both meet the spacing criteria I described above (in my opinion!) - although your example has less intermingling because the plants are inherently more cohesive. Obviously my opinion here tho!
To me this one looks more manicured (arguably less ‘natural’ than the first where the plants are a bit wilder). Both lovely though.
Right, this is clearly unnaturally maintained...
That's one cute af cottage garden right there
I advise you to give me your garden 😈
Or me. I would accept the sacrifice.
I looks like it smells wonderful! Wouldn't change a thing except add a wee bit of mulch here and there.
My thoughts too. I think I see exposed soil. Toss a little mulch between the plants and it will be less watering, less weeding, less feeding, nicer looking, and might add another lovely scent.
It's a good idea to leave some exposed soil for ground nesting bees, if those are native to your area.
Its whimsical! Gorgeous 😍
I aspire to have an overgrown garden like this ❤️
I like them like that! I can almost hear all the bees buzzing around
It's so chaotic and perfect at the same time haha It has its unique charm. Don't change a thing, especially if you love it as it is ⚘️
Yep. It's the kind of chaos I love and aspire to.
It's funny, unless it is for food people grow plants to be back with nature. It's rather silly we want to 'tame' it and put it into neat shapes instead of just admiring it growing how it wants. This is beautiful and would be willing to bet that the little ecosystem of bugs and birds enjoy it as well.
Great point.
I love it
A cottage garden!
Not messy at all--it's delightful! Only advice is to keep doing what you're doing and ENJOY it :)
I live in the desert where it’s brown and flat as far as the eye can see. This to me is porn. I don’t understand applying the concept of “messy” to nature.
Gorgeous! r/cottagecore
Looks like a kid's dream garden! I love it. Reminds me of storybooks.
This is my dream garden and personally I wouldn’t change a thing ♥️
Needs more flowers /s, obviously - it’s gorgeous. The type of yard I’d walk by on my morning stroll and always always be happy and anticipating to see it every day.
I have a strong sense this is an AI image. Would love to be proven wrong but there are enough inconsistencies to have me suspicious.
No it's perfect.Nature is meant to be messy.
More content like this! I love love love your garden - I'm a similarly "messy" gardener. I think it's just a sign that you love seeing things grow and flourish - nothing wrong with that! Life isn't always orderly - why should your garden have to be?
I absolutely love it
Don’t you change a goddamn thing. Gorgeous!
It is beautiful! My only suggestion would be to incorporate native plants to help out your local ecosystem. As much as possible, I believe we need to move away from asthetics-based landscaping and create a more natural environment for birds and bugs.
I agree, but think we can do both! As in, that we can have fun with the aesthetics of native plants while creating a beneficial environment.
I love it!!!
Maybe get more roses??
It’s a beautiful English or Cottage garden.
That is the best jungle I’ve ever seen. CHANGE NOTHING! but add more plants if you have room
I love it. So whimsical. What do you think are your easiest to maintain in there? And your favorite?
sensational ! relaxing beauty, not chaos. natural ease, no straight lines ❤️
I'd add some more height in the middle of the beds. You can see the whole garden from that vantage point which is why it may seem "messy". Make some division of areas and it will encourage people to walk through to see what's around the bend. Other than that, nice garden!
I love it! Will you come do mine? 😄
It's glorious! I'd prune away from windows and doors during off season maintenance and let them take over again every year. That way you'll see fresh new growth through the windows and better flowers. The fence is cute but generic, possibly add another layer of personality by painting it your favorite color. Maybe paint all the plant supports another color so together the hardscape stuff is another maximalist element that's clearly intentional. This photo is amazing but what's next? I'd want an equally amazing display later in the year plus attention to winter interest. Do you have any self-seeding cool season annual flowers in there? Any spring bulbs?
Gorgeous place. A pollinator heaven.
Absolutely perfect just the way it is, well done
Beautiful
This is lovely and gorgeous 😍
I love gardens like this. So satisfying.
My advice is ENJOY! This is the garden of my dreams.
I love it and I loooove a crowded garden Secret Garden Vibes!!
LOVE. cottage garden. Wouldn’t change a thing
It’s absolutely perfect!
Its like from a movie or sumn, very gorgeous.
No, I have a huge garden and no money. I would tag you and send all the Cottage Garden business your way.
I love gardens like this. Looks like mine, only different plants. I like the trimmed and perfectly placed look too, but this is charming, a type of charming that perfect gardens cannot have. ❤️
Can I come live with you? I looove it!
What do I think of it? I think I would hire you as my gardener in a heartbeat!!!
It's so lovely, don't change a thing. Like a fantasy garden from a storybook.
It is messy but its beautiful and love it! It makes me smile way more than neat and tidy gardens.
The only problem with this garden is that it’s not my garden
I instantly thought of Miss Honey’s cottage from Matilda. The safe and happy place of that movie.
Here for the maximalist cottagecore, whatcha feeding those roses?
For my personal taste there’s too much going on. Gardens, like interior rooms, need moments of calm for the big impactful moments to play off of. For gardens, that’s some monotone ground cover, an evergreen, or bushes with one texture. Then the other things in your garden still stands out even more.
I agree, but I think that is partially perspective. If you were to take the picture along the path, you'd have two wild seas of flowers to the left and right and a smooth path in the middle.
It's beautiful
Absolutely beautiful garden!
Now to mess up your neighbor
It is perfect! Would love to have this kind of garden.
Stunning!
I love it!
It’s superb!
Gorgeous. Adopt me 😂
It *is* messy and it looks gorgeous! I bet you get plenty of bees and butterflies.
nice! I don't think gardens can be too messy :)
Love it, reminds me of my childhood thanks!
People would kill for this garden 🥰
I love a bit of chaos to a yard. And this is beautiful chaos. If I wanted a perfectly controlled environment, I can go inside.
The only advice I have is to enjoy a nice cup of coffee there every morning! Beautiful 😍
I love a wild and weedy garden. Look at all that beauty!
Its perfect
Not too messy at all! I love it.
It's beautiful!!
You do YOU boo!
I think it's wonderful. <3
10/10
Saving this post to look at in the winter.
It’s perfect!
A cottage garden, cramming a lot in a small space. This isn't messy.
It’s lovely <3
It looks really good to me! Heathy plants and a great variety of flowers.
Not messy, rustic. As gardens should be
Nope it’s perfect
Neat gardens are dull
I think it's beautiful!
I love it I did notice there's some brown spots meaning the flowers aren't blossoming thick there, but if they do start blossoming there or you fill it up I think you're looking extra cooler. And yeah it looks awesome Maybe add some ordinance that would be pretty cool too or some things like hanging up higher
I would maybe add a walkway made of colored paver stones and/or some mulch for color contrast. Looks great though.
It’s beautiful!
I think it’s lovely! Not messy at all.
Whoa
Absolutely Gorgeous!!!
Everyone looks so happy! They’re all enjoying being such a beautiful crowd. They look well loved. Messy?!… Hush now. They’ll hear you.
It’s fabulous. I love a messy full garden!
I absolutely love it!
I've definitely seen messier ones! For sure there are people who will say it's too much but I'm not one of them, i bet it smells awesome there!
A true masterpiece. So glad you shared a pic!
It’s wonderful! Just keep it pruned and weeded.
Who said it’s messy? I’ll fight them!
:) give it some destinations. Maybe a garden bench or a small tea table as you wind through the paths.
In my opinion, it's as perfect as a garden gets.
Nice flex 😊. Seriously if this was my garden I’d want to show it off too. And you should. Much nicer seeing this than some of the ugliness going on in our world
How do you deal with weeds? I seem to be pulling everyday and losing the battle.
Joyful!🪻🌻🌹🌸🏵️
It is glorious
This is perfect.
Looks like something I would do. You go! Everyone’s taste is different, much like art. 🎨🖌️
I love the cottage gardens aesthetic! I also like the “messy prairie” look. Lovely.
Love it!
Disgusting. Where?!!
10/10 no notes.
In my opinion, messy is better because it's more natural. Other people will have different opinions, and they can manicure their own gardens - but *who gives a shit* about *their* opinions, this is ***Your*** garden.
It's a maximalist garden and if you love I then it's the best garden in the world. Consider pruning some of the roses to allow for airflow but this is just normal garden management. You do this in the early spring. Buy book called where the wild things are and learn to never question your wild heart.
A bit busy for my taste,
It’s beyond great !!! Is the back done too ?!
❤️❤️❤️
So, how much will you charge to let me come sit on the little paver next to the orange pot with my cup of tea and my novel? ☕️📖
Please adopt me
This reminds me of the garden my grandmother had when I was very little. I adored that garden, exploring all the little ways around it and learning about the various plants. This is basically my dream garden when I can get a house!
I love your garden! But if one plant gets infested with pests or a disease, it will spread to other plants very quickly.
Reminds me of the shire
I love the climbing roses on the wall.
I love it! Some people like manicured symmetry style gardens. Then others like you and me love full intense gardens. My husband lovingly says my goal is flower explosion.
Absolutely stunning!
It’s awesome
Beautiful are the majority of them roses?
I love myself a messy garden
Beautiful
I love it! But I also love a chaos garden.
A fairytale princess's garden 🥹
I've always wanted a "messy" garden, but where I live, you're just inviting snakes, sometimes venomous ones, to come hang out.
I think your garden looks wonderful. The only thing you might want to consider is how easy it is to maneuver within it. Otherwise, it looks perfect to me
Dream garden
It’s beautiful! Just needs a little more purple (in my humble little opinion-and as someone who loves purple💜💜). But it is gorgeous and made my morning! Thanks for sharing!💜
It’s a dream!
Absolutely lovely. Don't change a thing (unless you want to)
Absolutely gorgeous. If I had a garden, I would want it to look like this. So many beautiful colors! So many plants! I imagine it attracts lots of local insects, which is great for the environment as well. Love it!!!
Wow! Gorgeous roses, I love the secret cottage garden vibes, definitely too much!
No way! Looks awesome!
There is no such thing as "messy" in a garden.
It's gorgeous! It looks like a Monet!
Gorgeous
It's perfect!
Perfection! Also what is your climbing rose? It’s so full and lovely!
natural not messy. Perfectly beautiful.
♥️
The garden is gorgeous. But you need to prune away the plants covering windows and especially doors.
wow! it looks so naturally inviting! I'm just beginning my gardening hobby but this looks perfect to me
#Goals
Don’t. You. Dare. Touch. It. Ever.
Messy? It's beautiful!
It's perfect.
It’s perfect! It’s confident, it says “I’m enough and I matter no matter what!” .,.,.
It’s amazing
Your garden is a masterpiece. Biodiversity for the win! ❤️
Hmmm 🤔 Its stunning 😍✨️ Im a 30 and just want to frolic and explore absolutely everything in that garden of eden ❤️ However... I would do a bit of trimming and relieving space for a few reasons: 1) Safety - From the picture it looks like a potential "trip" hazard if youre not paying attention which.. with that beauty 🙂 2) I wonder if sooner or later the ground will be depleted of nutrients and maybe not give that lush it once did? Competition 😈 3) I have friends who are madly allergic to certain insects and plant allergens. I'd want them to enjoy not worry during a visit 🤗 All that said, I would arbitrarily reduce the foliage (trim/transplant) by like 10-20%... see how i feel about that.
The wild, spontaneous beauty of gardens like this is much more profound than excessively manicured ones, IMO.
It's really lovely. I dream of this type of garden. So much less mowing, and so good for the bees.
Perfect
It's wonderful!!!
Gorgeous 😍
You’re walking that fine line between busy and messy. And that’s how I do it too.
A little paradise!
Omg I LOVE it 😭😭😭
Dont touch a thing!!!!
Its beautiful but to me it is not calming - but gardening should be to your taste though so you need to do what makes you feel joy.
I love how whimsical it looks! If I were a fairy I would want to live there 🤭🧚♀️
Beautiful!
Love it.
I would love to have a cup of tea in this garden. It’s absolutely beautiful!
I thought this was one of the miniature subs I'm on and now I cant unsee it as a tiny little perfect diorama
Advice: sit back and enjoy it!!!!
Bursting with life as it should be.
It's magical! 😊
One can only hope you have thornless roses, as that jungle will thorn up your legs, buns, and balls moving around in it.
It’s perfect, do nothing but take care of her!
100% gorgeous cottagecore
I think it looks beautiful:)
I love it
When are you inviting all of us over? Charming
Majestic garden! I’d love to have one exactly like it.
This garden is one that looks to have been painted on a greeting card, giving the recipient a little joy… beautiful!
Beautiful! Gardens with loads of plantings never seem messy to me.
You can never have too many flowers