As some of you may know from reading my posts {thank you!} I am a staunch anglophile.  My first trip to England took place in 1985 and I fell in love with all things British.  We’ve vacationed in the country many times since.

English Cottage ~ love the boxwood and urns.

So when it came to landscaping my smallish yard I knew I wanted it to reflect, on a much smaller scale, an English cottage garden.

We’ve been in our house 30 years, and only now am I beginning to see the image I’ve had in my mind for all these years.  What’s taken you so long you may ask?  In short, life, children and sometimes funding.  ♥

We had a wooden swing set in the yard during the kids “formative” years and it had plenty of use, then we’ve had baseball practice, soccer practice, a sandbox [don’t try to plant a cottage garden near a sandbox, trust me on this one] and dogs to somewhat stall or hinder me.

I’ve trained a row of English ivy along the stone border in the back yard. 

The hedge of boxwoods around the patio were transplants from another area of the yard, they are still recovering, but all in all have survived and are showing signs of new growth.

On the side yard I’ve started a hedge of Texas privet (ligustrom) to cover the neighbor’s wall, in front is a low hedge of Japanese boxwood.

In any event, even while my garden business was thriving, I chipped away at areas of the yard and got most of the boxwood (Buxus microphylla japonica) hedges going.  The great thing about boxwood hedges in Southern California is the fact that they are pretty easy to grow and require only reasonable amounts of water.  I buy the variety that stands up to cool temperatures, even though we don’t get frost where I live.  I still have lost the occasional boxwood but in many cases they will fill in where the loss occurs, or I simply buy a 1-gallon replacement.

via Jennings & Gates ~ don’t you love this picture of boxwood with white Crepe Myrtle planted in each section, and the fabulous fountain in the center?

via Atlanta Home and Garden

When my roses are in bloom the formal garden shines.

Here are a few easy tips to keep your boxwood happy:

•  They prefer well-drained soil

• When trimming boxwood be sure to remove all cuttings.  If you don’t clean up trimmings you can create an environment for fungus which can cause the plant to die.
• Exposure:  Full sun or light shade

Carla’s garden…my friend always inspires me.

Dunham Classic American House ~ the boxwood breaks up the expanse of brick leading to the entrance of this lovely home.

via Nest Egg ~ this New Orleans business used boxwood in the planter and as an architectural accent with the rounded hedge spaced between classic boxwood.

Side note:  I’ve always been a huge fan of gardening, proof follows.  We lived in Texas for 2 years, when my mom came to visit we bought these crazy overalls as we prepared to plant the yard.  My orange overalls made me look like an escaped prisoner…LOL!  Hubby took the picture to imply I made my mom work during her visit…which was true, in part. 🙂  Can you see our toddler son in the image, still in his footed jammies?

Do you like the “formality” of boxwood? 

I’m over at Fishtail Cottage enjoying her garden party and

Stone Gable for her Tutorial Tips and Tidbits