An English-American Cottage Garden for Today

The front cover of Pamela Hubbard’s book that celebrates The Contemporary Cottage Garden.

If you have ever wanted to know how to make a difference in the world through your gardening practices look no further than Pamela Hubbard’s book “The Contemporary Cottage Garden” (Timber Press publishing date – February 10th 2026).

Pamela Hubbard and her new book – “The Contemporary Cottage Garden“.

Pamela Hubbard is an English-American Gardener who uses her own garden in the Poconos of Pennsylvania for inspiration. The photographs are by the award winning photographer – Rob Cardillo. Pam and Rob make a great team and have combined to develop this gorgeous book.

Why You Should Read this Book

Pam is a great gardener but she also gardens with a purpose. In this book Pam looks at a selection of current world problems, and then explains how you can design and install gardens to do your part to solve those problems.

The arched gate is an inviting entrance into Pam’s Cottage Garden

Pam’s beautiful Garden in The Poconos of Pennsylvania

Pam has tried all of the ideas that she writes about in her book – so you know that they will work for you too. In the book you will find out about her pollinator gardens, the peaceful area called her Serenity Garden, her luscious Vegetable Garden, Meadow, Dry Garden, and Rain Garden. Pam uses traditional cottage garden plants, and others that have a similar look, to create a comforting, timeless look with an up-to-date rationale.

Pam immersed in her flowery meadow full of pink Echinacea.
Pam’s gazebo floats in Pam’s fabulous coattage garden meadow. She details how to grow your own meadow.

Some of my Favorite Parts of Pam’s Book

I love Pam’s approach to topics such as pollution, stress, and unaffordable food prices. She is endlessly positive and explains in a step-by-step way how to mitigate those problems in your own garden. My favorite chapter is where she details how she worked with the young granddaughter of a friend to install “Lucy’s Garden”. Working with young people to instill a love of gardening must be one of the most rewarding things that we can do as gardeners.

Pam Hubbard’s Cutting Garden in summer is packed with white Cosmos and purply-pink Phlox – perfect for picking.

In full disclosure I have visited Pam’s lovely garden many times over the years. It is about two hours north of my garden and I take every opportunity to go visit for a garden stroll and a cup of tea. If it is cold we are in her delightful Pennsylvania farmhouse that has been in her husband’s family for decades. On a hot day her delightful gazebo in the meadow is the favored spot. These are some of my favorite photos of her garden.

Doodles the goat is always hungry! He lives with his friend Petunia (also a goat – not a flower)
The view across the pond in Pam’s Garden. Pam uses plants for every season intermingled as they always were in cottage gardens.
Everyone loves to see inside garden sheds. Here is Pam’s lovely shed/greenhouse – I love the comfy chair.

Inspiration from Pam’s Cottage Garden

Pam’s book is packed with inspirational ideas for making your own garden. Look inside for ways to create a peaceful sitting area, a place for pollinators, or a sensory garden.

A portion of Pam’s Serenity Garden features a relaxing place to sit and plants in shades of green and white.
Pam’s mailbox planting is a perfect example of a small but mighty pollinator garden featuring Liatris and Echinacea in this summer photo.
A summertime view of Pam’s floriferous garden that is packed with pollinators.

To Learn more about Pam and Her Garden – Use this Link and Sign up for her Free Newsletter

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I hope that you will buy a copy of Pam’s new book and share this post with a friend. Bye for now Gardening Friends. Jenny Rose Carey

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