I've finished reading David Stuart's Gardening With Antique Plants today, and I must say the book was among the better gardening books I've read as of late. It was beautifully photographed and quite informative!Mr. Stuart organizes the book by a list of recommended antique plants for certain garden types; Cottage, Wildflower, Topiary, Rose, Kitchen and Container. The book is of considerable value to the cottager because the majority of the plant listings focuses on the tried-and-true varieties commonly used in the potager (that's a vegetable garden) and the flower garden.
Here are some of Mr. Stuart's recommend plants for a Cottage Flower Garden:
Bulbs and Perennials:
Acanthus (Bear's Breeches)
Alcea (Hollyhock)
Anemone
Aquilegia (Columbine)
Bellis (Daisy)
Dianthus (Carnation, Pink, Sweet William, China Pink)
Helleborus (Christmas Rose, Hellebore)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Iris
Lily
Paeonia (Peony)
Papaver (Poppy)
Primula (Primrose, Cowslip, Oxlip, Auricala)
Ranunculus
Tulips
Annuals
Antirrhinum (Snapdragon)
Calendula
Cheiranthus (Wallflower)
Lupines
Nasturtium
Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)
Sweet Peas
Violas/Pansies
Climbers
Clematis
Honeysuckle
Ivy
Morning Glory
And here are his suggestions for the Potager (Kitchen Garden):
Fruit Trees
Malus (Apple)
Mespilus (Medlar) (I had to look this one up. Not as common in American gardens)
Prunus Avium (Cherry)
Prunus Domestica (Plum)
Prunus Persica (Peach)
Pyrus (Pear)
Ribes x uva-crispa var. reclinatum (Gooseberry)
Vitis (Vine)
Vegetables
Allium Cepa (Onion)
Allium Porrum (Leeks)
Amaranthus
Brassica (Cabbages)
Curcurbita (Pumpkins and Squash)
Cynara (Artichoke)
Foeniculum (Fennel)
Lycopersicon (Tomato)
Phaseolus (Beans)
Pisum (Peas)
Spinacia (Spinach)
Kitchen Herbs
Allium (Chives)
Anethum (Dill)
Coriandrum (Coriander)
Mentha (Mint)
Ocimum (Basil)
Origanum (Marjoram)
Petroselinum (Parsley)
Thymus (Thyme)
