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Outdoor/Garden
Garden Ideas that Match Your Style
Gardens bring your personal style outdoors. These thoughtful approaches to garden design will truly help your home bloom.
Looking for garden ideas that work every time? If you treat the garden as an extension of your home, says self-taught gardener Jeri Cunningham, you’re guaranteed to love the results. Jeri’s garden begins on her porch; it flows out the door and windows, beautifully framing her turn-of-the-century cottage in Orange, California. Delphiniums in antique urns... Keep Scrolling
Written by Stephanie Baker
Photography by Mark Mendez


Looking for garden ideas that work every time? If you treat the garden as an extension of your home, says self-taught gardener Jeri Cunningham, you’re guaranteed to love the results. Jeri’s garden begins on her porch; it flows out the door and windows, beautifully framing her turn-of-the-century cottage in Orange, California.

victorian window with pink painted trim
Pink roses and flowers shrubs compliment the pink trim of Jeri’s Victorian cottage window

Delphiniums in antique urns and coleus in vintage pots grace the home’s grounds, and metal chairs prop up ivy and trailing vinca. Pick flowers that match your furniture or that mean something special to you—they could even be an extension of a theme inside your home.

Related Reading: 10 Things Beginning Gardeners Should Know

Creative containers make the porch garden a whimsical and colorful space.
Creative containers make the porch garden a whimsical and colorful space.

As Jeri says, “Start one flower bed at a time.” Don’t rush your garden; let nature do its work. Once you have an idea of what you want your garden to look like, plant your foundation pieces (trees, permanent shrubs, etc.) first; then add the plants and flowers that grow seasonally. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re having difficulty planting some items; better to take the time to plant it right than to have to dig it up later.

A simple gathering in the iron pergola feels extra special thanks to vintage styling and the lush layers of plantings that Jeri created to surround the space.
A simple gathering in the iron pergola feels extra special thanks to vintage styling and the lush layers of plantings that Jeri created to surround the space.

Looking for more gardening ideas? Check out this post on ways to add vintage flair to your garden. Or this one all about the basics of cottage garden style. 

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