Building My Dream Cottage Garden

My 2026 Seed Starting Plan & Weekly Timeline

Zone: 6b

Average Last Frost Date: Around April 27th

The goal is a romantic cottage feeling everywhere.

Here’s exactly what flowers I’m planting and when:

Week 1 - February 22nd

Slow Flowers

Snapdragon

Delphinium

Foxglove

Strawflower

Calendula

Hollyhock

WEEK 2 – Early March (Romantic Front Yard + Filler Additions)

Baby’s Breath

Eucalyptus (Silver Dollar – Eucalyptus polyanthemos)

Pansies

Lavender

Carnation

Canterbury Bells

Alyssum

WEEK 3 – Mid March (Hardy Direct Sow + Structure)

Sweet Pea

Bachelor’s Buttons (one packet)

Larkspur

California Poppy (choose one variety)

Black Eyed Susan

Lupine (one packet)

WEEK 4 – Late March / Early April (Warm Annuals)

Zinnias (1–2 varieties only)

Cosmos

Sunflowers (front yard minimal, backyard fuller)

Celosia (King Coral)

4 O'Clocks

This year I am planting my flower gardens like I am tucking love letters into the soil for the eighty-year-old version of me, the one who will walk these beds slowly and remember that she planted them just for me.