It started out as a wildflower garden to fill in where a tree fell, but it also has a few random plants like that massive hosta and even a Lupine that was planted late last summer because it was on sale. The only part I don’t really like, and can’t seem to get rid of, are the cornflowers.
by Jayce86
25 Comments
Guess it’s time to try getting rid of the wife to see if that helps. Jk I love a good chaos garden!
I like it!!! 🌱
May I suggest that she starts a garden of her own and each year you can try to out-do the other? Add a little spice to life.
(Also I like the cornflowers, they are such cute flowers).
Would adding some mulch around the bottom make it look more “cottage garden” and less “hobgoblin garden” ? I love it, but i can also see the untended vibe as well.
I love a chaos garden, but I feel like this one could be benefit from trimming the weedy yard. Keeps the look intentional.
Married 20 years, compromise is usually always the key to happiness. What do you want from the garden? A space for wildlife? Pollinator paradise? Minimal work? And what does she want? Beauty and intentionality? Both can be achieved.
I have gardened for years and never weed, have a very intentional and orderly garden that is a butterfly garden. I keep the dense planting you have but replace the weeds/grasses/wild flowers with curated flowers planned to always have form and blooms. I have more pollen and food for the pollinators than any wildflower garden ever could. I also help the monarchs.
What is your area/zone? Maybe I could recommend some additions/replacements? Looks like SE USA?
It’s beautiful, I love it! I think a prettier border would perk it up a bit, though 🙂
You know who loves your chaos garden? Bees! And we dont have a wife shortage, so…
If you are willing to compromise, you could weed a bit a do some meticulous, selective pruning to give is some form. Controlled chaos is also beautiful and hard work.
Sounds like a wifey problem! Just kidding. Maybe do some pruning and see if that makes her happy. If not, does she like cut flowers?
I love your chaos garden!
Has she considered embracing the chaos
I think it would benefit from a more organic shape. It looks like you just plopped down some boards and called it day. Curves would make it much sexier chaos garden.
Natural, wild, garden!
It’s really gorgeous with all those different colored flowers, and I bet you get a lot of bees and butterflies! I have a similar chaos gardening style and struggle with keeping the bordering grass clean and trimmed. Recently got a $30 cordless handheld grass trimmer and I find it helps neaten the grass edges so the profusion of flowers stand out in all their chaotic glory.
It looks great. My husband often times gets jealous when I’m successful in a garden project. I wonder if your wife is the same way.
Nice sweet Williams by the way! Those take 2 years from seed
Mine is chaotic too. I don’t want to see dirt! This is only a small portion but if I see dirt I add something! My lupines are taking over!
https://preview.redd.it/c5k58xqpil0h1.jpeg?width=4743&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0aa251af6eec4d70982a957064803cceb4a0067d
She’s wrong
Find some free bricks or other edging material like branches and/or logs and put them around the bed instead of the wood (if bricks a cute little row or two). You might find in the yard or in a buy nothing group. Special touch, put a bird bath in the middle. BAM – way cuter and then the chaos garden will be more lovely to look at.
Maybe just not enough thicker broadleaf textures. It’s all different plants but all one texture.
Your garden is lovely. What it needs could be easy:
A birdbath in the middle.
A more formal border or willow border or 4 attractive corner posts so it LOOKS like you planned it as a garden. Go to Pinterest and look up Potager to get an idea of a kitchen garden and their beautiful adornments.
A solar light or two so you can see it at night.
Some spilling plants on the sides.
Go to [Sunset.com](http://Sunset.com) for more inspiration for natural gardens that look like you planned them 🌺🐝
Ok, so, constructive criticism… Levels would go a long way to give this a more intentional look. Consider adding sunflowers or something else with a lot of height toward the back, then some middle height stuff, then shorter stuff. Then even though you have a mish mash of lovely chaos, there’s a sense of structure and you can see each plant a little more clearly.
I, too, am a chaos gardener and love to cram in as many things as possible. Getting some height in is a game changer.
Bro we might have married the same woman
I enjoy a chaos garden, but if I could make a suggestion, some taller plants in the middle would give it more dimension and visual appeal. And pollinators would appreciate it too!
She’s obviously a Soundgarden fan then