Growing a cottage garden

A few things to consider when moving your perennials around this month (depending on where you live, sooner rather than later!):

There are no rules, except grow what you love Cottage gardens are typically jumbles of fav plants or the result of "orphan planting" - shared cutting from friends that just had to have a home and some TLC. Plant in masses for maximum appeal. Most gardens of this type of a kind of wind swept appearance and shambles-crowded sort of thing going on as plants scramble for space and light.
Plant enough, more than you need "Average" three quarters of a foot or so for each plant to get that massed, crowded look. You can divide them once they are established.
Be patient A garden planted in masses of grouped varieties will start to come into its own and look great in its second year; definitely by its third.
Be generous, keep the cycle going By year four you will have to start dividing, moving and sharing plants when you figure out what works where and which are your "spreaders" and which are you "stayers".
Don't be afraid to divide/move perennials Perennials like to be moved. If a plant isn't doing well in one area, it's telling you to move it. If stuff is getting overgrown, divide it.
Texture/colour combinations Cottage gardens are all about loving plants and abundant blooms - you'll see what you like and move things accordingly.

Your garden will never be complete. That's part of the fun!

Tightwad has a thing about perennials. For more gardening goodies, visit the "cloud" on this site under gardening. Here's a post on guerilla gardening, too.