I realize that this is kind of a formal layout for a cottage garden, but the plantings will be arranged informally. And if I don't like the "+" pattern, then I can easily cut out the other access paths to enlarge the planting beds on the other 3 sides. The planting beds are roughly 6' on each side and 33" deep. I then used the garden hose as a guide to connect the sides with a curve, and cut the line in the sod. This was done to break up the straight lines and to mirror the circular shape of the apricot tree. My son Timothy helped me dig these beds, he is camera shy, so I didn't take any pictures of him laboring. So now let's take a strole on the future carpet of green, you will have to use your imagination here okay!
Now that most of the heavy work is done, I will be researching flowers and chosing which of them will be placed where in the beds next spring. I'm also doing some research on fruit trees. I would like to squeeze in an ultra dwarf cherry and maybe a plum between the grass path and the rose bed near the house, making a mini orchard, how exciting! The current non-producing peach tree will be scrapped for a mission fig and the butchered kadota fig will be replaced with another veggie bed. Be sure to visit my 'Back Yard Garden' page for more details!