One of the oldest roses and the one with which I associate cottage gardens is the moss rose, Rosa centifolia ‘Muscosa’, named for the reddish-green moss on the flower buds. The blossoms are soft delicate pink, fully double and possess a spicy fragrance that announces ‘cottage garden’ to the world. Like all the old roses it prefers a soil that is on the heavy side, but is not fussy as to whether this is of acid or alkaline persua­sion. A sunny position is essential well away from the drip of overhanging trees which can cause the balling and browning of blos­soms. A vigorous grower, I can remember this particular rose invading the elderly hawthorn hedge in my grandmother’s cot­tage garden. In mid-summer it cheekily waved fresh wands of foliage above its sup­port, each garlanded in pink cabbagy blos­soms. Despite attempts to curb its activities, it became inextricably bound up with the hawthorn and there it remains to this day.

The gallica roses are the parents of the modern rose and had a big part to play in the development of the moss rose. Rosa gallica itself is known as the French rose, and more importantly its cultivar the old red damask, R. gallica ‘Officinalis’ as the apothecary’s rose. It was this latter that was thought during the Middle Ages to be able to pro­vide a cure for almost every known human ailment. Rosa gallica is a rather lax shrub, scarcely ever more than T5 m (5 ft) high with saucer-like pink blossoms which are followed by bold, rounded, brick-red hips. Its partner, ‘Officinalis’ is of similar habit, but with fragrant, semi-double, rosy-crim­son flowers. There is also an old cottage garden rose popularly referred to as ‘Rosa mundi’, but really R. gallica ‘Versicolor’, which occurred as a branch sport from the apothecary’s rose and has semi-double flowers that are striped with red and white.

Damask roses are derived from R. damas-cena, a short shrubby character with large clusters of red, pink or white richly fragrant flowers and vicious thorny stems. They are ancient roses of mixed parentage, believed to be old hybrids rather than true species, but so old that their origins are lost in the mists of time. There are innumerable named cultivars in modern catalogues, but for interest and cottage garden authenticity I would select the double soft pink ‘Trigin-tipetala’, an old kind that is used in the production of attar of roses.

Climbing and rambling roses find no place here, but the diversity that remains is still overwhelming. Those just mentioned would be a must in my cottage garden, but there are others that are worthy contenders and to which I must introduce you. Rela­tives of the moss rose, like its progenitor, the cabbage rose, R. centifolia; with both fragrant flowers and foliage it is an absolute delight. There is the dainty China rose, R. chinensis, the forerunner of the delightful fairy roses typified by R. chinensis ‘Minima’. We have sweet briars, R. rubiginosa, that can be utilized as a hedge and the ramanas rose, R. rugosa, which is equally at home in a difficult corner. This boisterous fellow has yielded many fine cultivars, amongst which the pale rose-pink ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’ reigns supreme. Not only are the blossoms lovely, but so too are the rich crimson hips. And there are dwarf burnet roses derived from R. pintpinellifolia, which make low thickets of thorny branches thronged during early summer with tiny sweetly scented blossoms.

Roses with cottage garden associations are nearly as many as the pebbles on the beach. If you are unsure about what you require, then visit one of the very many good collections that are growing in gardens open to the public and judge for yourself. Mid-summer is the time to check out the flowers, but many have useful and decora­tive fruits too and these should be looked at again during early autumn.

However, its simplicity does not imply that there are no preparations to be done. Some decisions are required before beginning flower gardening. First of all, one needs to decide whether he/she would like annuals (one season flowers that need to be replanted each year) or the perennials (that can survive winters and will return again once summers come). The kind of climate that you live in is also crucial while buying /planting to know what sort of flowers will thrive there. Also knowing the sun requirements is also important.

Flower gardening is also no doubt about the looks of that garden of yours, so you also need to decide that. A very charming meadow-type look can be acquired by making wild plant styled garden. This is done by mixing various variety, heights and colors of the flowers. Stepping stone styled garden can be made by planting flowers in order of their heights.

Seeds required for the purpose of flower gardening may be obtained from the catalogues or may be bought from some nursery. Often what people will prefer to do is visiting a nursery and buying the flowers themselves which they then transplant in their gardens. After the initial preparation of preparing the garden area and buying the flowers, you need to lay out the flowers in the beds to ensure that the placement is to your liking and the flower spacing is proper.

Planting is probably the easiest process of flower gardening. On the other hand, if you’ve seeds all you need to do is sprinkle them in the flower beds. Transplants can be done by digging a hole a bit bigger as compared to the flower and after pulling off the container, just set it in the hole. Cover with loose soil while pressing down firmly. Finally water the plant.

A flower garden probably is even easier to maintain than planting. Though they would probably not exactly require it, yet it is a fine idea to apply fertilizer in early spring. Pinch back the faded blooms and keep them well watered. Next season’s work can be minimized by ridding the garden of debris and spreading organic nutrients such as compost. Turn the soil so as t properly mix the fertilizer in, but take care not to harm the roots of the perennial plants, if any.

Isn’t flower gardening rather easy? Just plant what you wish to plant, and water it well. Maybe, exactly the reason that flower gardening is fast become exceedingly popular.