Progress in our coastal woodland cottage backyard
We’re entering our fifth summer here. How can that even be? I counted it a few times and it still feels unreal—time has simply flown by.
There’s so much left to do, so I’m grateful we plan to stay in this house for a long time. The plants need more time to settle in, and I’m happy to give them that.
Today I’m sharing some late-spring progress in the backyard, along with a few plant struggles we’ve had.
I’m calling this our Coastal Woodland Cottage Garden—I’ll explain why below.
These photos were taken a few weeks ago; some plants have already filled in since then, so I’ll follow up later in the season.
Tiny cottage, troubles and mishaps
Everything started when we added The Tiny Cottage for my parents. The yard was torn up after construction, and while it would have been nice to hire landscapers to redo the whole backyard, we chose to handle most of it ourselves except for the decks the contractors built.
We enjoy creating flagstone paths and cottage-style plantings, so we thought it would be straightforward. In reality, getting plants to thrive here has been more difficult than expected. We planted species that failed, replaced them with others that struggled, and dealt with surprises like trees falling that weren’t even planted by us.
Despite setbacks, we’re slowly figuring things out. Working on a small yard turned out to be more complicated than anticipated, and at times it felt like we took one step forward and two steps back. Still, I wanted to share a progress report—you might enjoy seeing what’s been happening out here.
This may be a long update, so grab a cup of tea or coffee if you like.
Embracing a coastal woodland garden
We decided on the Coastal Woodland Cottage Garden because that style naturally suits the space. We’re surrounded by forest and the sea, and the scent of pine and salt air sets the tone.
Think mossy stones, ferns, hydrangeas, hosta, astilbe, herbs and climbing vines—layers of green, scattered pine needles, and winding paths rather than a perfectly manicured layout. I love how relaxed and natural the space feels, with little tucked-away spots to sit and enjoy the view.
Flagstone paths and bridges
My husband installed a flagstone patio and a path that winds around the yard, including small bridges over French drains. They add a playful element for visiting grandkids and make gardening access easier. The bridges were a kit we assembled together.
You can’t see the bridges well in these photos, so I’ll capture more images once summer advances. One woodland-cottage idea I want to add soon is fairy gardens hidden for little ones to discover—something I’ve made before and have always wanted to create as a grandparent.
Layering in cottage garden touches
My parents have added so much charm around The Tiny Cottage—an awning, a cottage sign, flowers in a post box planter, birdhouses, a fountain, and window boxes. These small details come together slowly over time and add personality to the garden; I’ll share more of them later.
Trees, roots, needles and rocks
We moved the fire pit away from the house to make room for the addition, and my dad has been arranging stacked pavers around the fire pit and some plant beds to prevent soil from washing onto the patio. The yard has a lot of rock and exposed roots, which complicates planting.
We even lost several trees that were here before we moved in. One very tall tree toppled over in the middle of the night last fall and landed across the yard on the Tiny Cottage deck, coming dangerously close to a window. Thankfully no one was hurt and nothing was damaged.
Critters, plant eaters and trellises
This backyard has reminded us we’re not master gardeners. We encountered caterpillars last year (they thankfully didn’t return this season) and regular visits from deer that nibble our plants. My parents put up a temporary lattice fence to help keep deer out, but a mama and two fawns still wandered through recently.
We’re experimenting with different strategies to protect young plants and learning which species deer avoid. For example, we discovered deer tend to leave peonies alone, which makes me excited to plant more in the front yard.
We’re trying to outsmart the local wildlife long enough for our plants to get established, and adapting our choices based on what does well.
Shade plants and moss for a woodland garden
Although we’re in USDA zone 8b like our previous home, this backyard has its own microclimate. A neighbor suggested focusing on shade-loving plants after struggling with her own yard, and that advice made sense for our wooded setting.
We planted hostas, hydrangeas, astilbe, sweet woodruff, camellias and ferns, among others. Many are filling in this year. Our trees drop lots of pine needles, which I’ve come to embrace as part of the woodland aesthetic rather than fight.
We’re leaning into what grows well here instead of forcing plants that don’t adapt, and the result feels more natural and cohesive.
Moss between flagstones
After Corsican mint didn’t survive the winter, we planted moss between the flagstones last spring. Moss grows naturally here, so we expect it to spread with time. Interestingly, small patches of Corsican mint have started to reappear, so we’re watching to see which groundcover wins out. Planting a few experimental patches has made gardening more playful and instructive.
Cottage garden flowers
For classic cottage-garden charm, we planted Eden climbing roses. I considered placing them on the side of the house but chose to plant them around the French doors where they might be safer from deer. They were some of the first plants we added and were blooming when these photos were taken.
They’ve likely filled out more since these images, and I may still move them if needed to give them more room to spread. For now they add that old-fashioned, romantic feel I wanted.
This is the side of the house where I’ve been tempted to place the climbing roses; the plants here are thriving and look very happy.
So that’s our coastal woodland cottage backyard in spring. There’s more to show as the season progresses, and I’ll share updates later this summer.
Do you like to garden? Have you struggled with plants too?