The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett made a huge impact on 12-year-old me (if you’ve never read it yourself, I highly recommend it). In addition to the story, I fell in love with the beauty and magic of the cottage garden. I’ll lead you through the essentials of cottage—aka English—garden design. How to choose plants, colors and textures to create romantic, ethereal spaces. The importance of structure—which cannot be overstated. And how to achieve that intangible, whimsical sentimentality the cottage garden is known for. Whether looking for a formal space to entertain or an intimate, informal place for your own enjoyment, you’ll learn how to achieve both while keeping that charming, nostalgic quality of a cottage garden.