At Watson’s, we specialize in varieties that thrive in our unique PNW climate. While many focus strictly on "Fall planting," the real secret is simply getting them in while the soil is cool but workable. If you're looking forward to summer color, we also bring in Dahlias, Lilies, and Gladiolus in early spring, just in time for the ground to warm up. 

This easy-care design combines the relaxed charm of a cottage-style garden with low-maintenance plants. The framework of flowering shrubs like lilac and Hydrangea, and the evergreen leaves of Abelia, provides structure, seasonal blooms, and year-round interest while supporting pollinators. Perennials are woven throughout for a soft, 
natural look, adding color and movement with minimal upkeep. A low-maintenance climbing rose introduces vertical interest to the garden and softens fences or trellises.

Plant List:

Shrubs

• Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight'  
  
• Lilac Syringa vulgaris ‘Sensation' or a similar variety of lilac 
  
• Climbing Rose Rosa 'Cécile Brünner' or similar easy-care climbing rose 
  
• Abelia ‘Kaleidoscope' 

Perennial Mix

• Allium' Millenium' or similar perennial Allium variety. These types of alliums are 
  noted for their long-blooming, abundant, purple globes that dance above the 
  plant.  
• Aster' Wood's Purple' or other perennial aster. The woods' series is late summer to
  fall-blooming with flowers.  
• Candytuft (Iberis s.) -early spring pure white blooms, low mounding groundcover  
  good for pathway edges.
• Catmint (Nepeta) - low-growing, long summer bloom. Cut back when flowers fade 
  for a late-summer rebloom.
• Dianthus' Firewitch' or other variety of low growing dianthus- a classic cottage 
  garden plant for early spring bloom.
• Hardy Geranium 'Rozanne' or other variety. Rozanne is a deep cobalt blue with 
  abundant blooms all summer.
• Lavender (Lavandula) - easy care, pollinator-friendly, with purple flowers in 
  midsummer. 

More Perennials for Easy-care Cottage Gardens

• Black Eye Susan (Rudbeckia) - long-blooming late summer, fall color.
• Coreopsis - drought tolerant, low maintenance, small daisy-like flowers.
• Daylily (Hemerocallis) - a summer blooming favorite in many colors,  
  look for ever-bloomers like ‘Stella D'Oro'.
• Gaura - airy flowers dance in the summer wind, long-blooming and drought tolerant.
• Salvia ‘Caradonna' or other variety of flowering Salvia - classic deep blue purple 
  vertical flower spikes; low maintenance.
• Yarrow (Achillea) - drought tolerant, loves summer heat, and it's umbel shaped flowers attract pollinators. 

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