I have a large back lot that needs help. It is 85 x 70 ft.

An OG berm is going in at the back near a cedar rail fence that will be a curved sweep about 40 x 10. Behind the end sweep will be planted a 10 year old red maple.

There is a veggie garden 20 x 10 below the right side of the berm about 20 feet away.

I want a cottage berm about 10 x 20 feet to the left of the OG berm to try to balance the area. The framing will be cedar split rails three feet at the back and droping to 1 foot at the front and 10 x 10. I will be using pea gravel in the front of the rails 10 feet and 3 feet around the rails and a cedar bench that is 6 feet and a bird bath placed on the gravel. Some flag stone with gravel and or thyme mixed in at the front bench area.

I am thinking of Coneflower (white and purple) at the back and verbena and lespedaza to hang over the rails. Lavender infront of that and a herb selection around the bird bath and bench.

I think I need some yellow. Any ideas.

I'm z5 and hope this oasis can show May thru October.

Any changes or new thoughts appreciated. I have daylilies that can be divided, some chelone pinks and hydrangeas but I don't think any of that would give me an old English Cottage Garden look.

Can you give me some insight to other plants than the standard ones (commom) that I have mentioned.

New ideas are good! Must be hundreds of plants out there that do the same job and are different that I don't know about and would love to try.