

About Sarah
AND THE ROOTS OF THE COTTAGE GARDEN

Welcome to the Cottage Garden!
I am Sarah.
Author and blogger, gardenista, crazy about cheerful, colorful gardens that enchant and amaze. And most of the time, I have dirt under my fingernails. (I'm happy to accept any tip that can make them presentable again in a reasonable amount of time—so far, I've only had success with dark nail polish.) I've gotten off topic, sorry.
Sterile conditions in the front yard, white plastic chairs, and boredom in the flowerbed are a horror to me. Instead, I love the enchantment, abundance of flowers, delicious scents, and buzzing life within my own four walls.
I am married, have three sons (two and the classic latecomer who came 10 years later) and have danced on international PR stages, sometimes employed, sometimes self-employed.

I grew up in the heart of Munich, right next to the Hofbräuhaus – without a garden or a balcony. I then studied in the USA and lived and worked in France and Switzerland.
And I always wanted a cottage garden.
When we built in 2011, the time had come and I was able to create my first own garden.
Learning by doing was the plan. I taught myself everything, devoured countless books, watched English gardening programs, and found inspiration online. Then I just started and gained many experiences, both good and bad. Sometimes I could have put the money directly into the planting holes.
And I still haven't figured out how to grow parsley properly. (I'd be extremely grateful for any advice on this, too.)
I am happiest when I feel like I am walking barefoot through a bouquet of flowers.

Enchanted, dreamy and romantic
THE COTTAGE GARDEN
Today, it's the epitome of charm and nonchalance, full of blossoms, fragrance, and joie de vivre. Colorful sustainability, a habitat for many beneficial insects, and garden enjoyment instead of gardening. Perhaps a few chickens, juicy tomatoes, and a fresh bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table? The desire for a simple life, the longing for authenticity, far from smartphones and Wi-Fi.
Its origins are somewhat less romantic. The goal was to fill the pantry and thus the stomachs. A purely vegetable garden that had to feed its inhabitants. It was designed to produce the greatest possible harvest in a small space. It had to be useful and functional. No time for outdoor living.
The easiest way to your cottage garden
COTTAGE GARDEN ONLINE COURSE
Would you like to transform your garden into an enchanted and romantic paradise for people and animals?
But you don't know where to start?
It's super professionally done, yet very personal, incredibly comprehensive with great additional material and practical information. I'm thrilled!
Kornelia Friedenauer
Editor-in-Chief My Beautiful Garden | Garden Fun | Garden IdeasThank you so much for your online gardening course! I'm absolutely thrilled! The wealth of information, support, pictures, ideas, suggestions, and examples – simply fantastic! So lush, generous, diverse, and detailed… exactly what I like! Your passionate commitment is so palpable, as is the enormous amount of work that goes into it. A huge compliment to you – what you've created is incredible! Cheers to you, dear Sarah, and to the many wonderful gardens that can be created or continue to grow thanks to your course!
Manuela
After completing the online course, I'd like to give you some quick feedback: It was fantastic! Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. Despite my 10 years of gardening experience, our large, mature garden was lacking that certain something. The course showed me what it's all about—especially structure and organization. I had a particularly eye-opening experience with topics like visual axes, borders, and tall perennials. Your planting lists are brilliant and immediately inspired me. Thank you again; the course is more valuable than any book and exactly what I was missing.
Alexandra
I bought your online course and I'm really happy that I invested the money in this course instead of plants. So much basic knowledge and everything is described, listed, and presented with such attention to detail—truly fantastic!
Susan
I've finished all the modules now, and I'm a little sad that it's already over. I had so much fun listening to you, taking notes, and sketching. My plan is set, and now I'm making my shopping list.
I would like to thank you very much for the great work.
Inga
Thank you so much for your fantastic online course! I finished it (pure version) today and I'm absolutely thrilled. I'd love to get started right away, because I'm not the most patient person myself, and especially not when it comes to dream come true...
Nanette

It's super professionally done, yet very personal, incredibly comprehensive with great additional material and practical information. I'm thrilled!
Kornelia Friedenauer
Editor-in-Chief My Beautiful Garden | Garden Fun | Garden IdeasThank you so much for your online gardening course! I'm absolutely thrilled! The wealth of information, support, pictures, ideas, suggestions, and examples – simply fantastic! So lush, generous, diverse, and detailed… exactly what I like! Your passionate commitment is so palpable, as is the enormous amount of work that goes into it. A huge compliment to you – what you've created is incredible! Cheers to you, dear Sarah, and to the many wonderful gardens that can be created or continue to grow thanks to your course!
Manuela
After completing the online course, I'd like to give you some quick feedback: It was fantastic! Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. Despite my 10 years of gardening experience, our large, mature garden was lacking that certain something. The course showed me what it's all about—especially structure and organization. I had a particularly eye-opening experience with topics like visual axes, borders, and tall perennials. Your planting lists are brilliant and immediately inspired me. Thank you again; the course is more valuable than any book and exactly what I was missing.
Alexandra
I bought your online course and I'm really happy that I invested the money in this course instead of plants. So much basic knowledge and everything is described, listed, and presented with such attention to detail—truly fantastic!
Susan
I've finished all the modules now, and I'm a little sad that it's already over. I had so much fun listening to you, taking notes, and sketching. My plan is set, and now I'm making my shopping list.
I would like to thank you very much for the great work.
Inga
Thank you so much for your fantastic online course! I finished it (pure version) today and I'm absolutely thrilled. I'd love to get started right away, because I'm not the most patient person myself, and especially not when it comes to dream come true...
Nanette
In 2011, I planted our garden myself, planting every single plant myself. And every year it's different, leaving me amazed by the wonders of nature, both large and small.


I'm Sarah, an author and blogger, passionate about cheerful, colorful gardens that enchant and amaze. I love cottage gardens, farm gardens, and country gardens—natural, playful, and full of flowers.
That's why I think: no more boring gardens - more space for abundance of flowers and joy of life.
I'd like to take you into my blooming world, share tips and tricks for creating a lush bloom in your garden, and show you that it doesn't always have to be a lot of work—it can be a lot of fun. I maintain that a well-planned flowerbed requires significantly less work than a well-maintained lawn!


I've known Sarah since school! For a few years now, I've been part of the "Cottage Garden Adventure," and Sarah has managed to transform me from "I kill every plant" into an enthusiastic gardener (Sarah will get you all!!!). I live on a stormy Danish island (with my Scottish husband and two dogs) and am here for you whenever you have questions about your orders.


Please send applications to: blumenglueck@mycottagegarden.de


My name is Janina, and I've been photographing Sarah in her garden for several years. My great love of nature, especially plants and seas of flowers, was already there before. However, since becoming a regular at Sarah's Cottage Garden with my camera, I've added a wealth of expertise to the absolute chaos of plants in my head. For me, a garden isn't an English lawn trapped in a chain-link fence, but a source of inspiration. My greatest challenge is to photographically capture the beauty of the cottage garden and its plants for you – just as Sarah sees them through her own eyes.


Hi, I'm Anna – a passionate aesthetics lover, nature enthusiast, and foodie. With a keen eye for detail and a generous dose of creativity, I design the visual content for My Cottage Garden. Combining nature and aesthetics isn't just a job for me, but a passion that I incorporate into all my graphic work.
Inspiration between the lines
SARAH'S BOOK WORLD
With her flair for natural beauty and gardening ease, Sarah inspires many people. She introduces them to the world of relaxed gardening, imparts knowledge in her books in a charming and playful way, offers practical tips, and tells inspiring garden stories.
Sarah was awarded the special prize of the German Garden Book Prize 2022 and received the prize for the top 5 best garden books of 2023.
AWARDS
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"Tulip Joy" – Hardcover Book
Regular price 25,00 €Regular priceUnit price / per -
Dahlia Magic – Book
Regular price 25,00 €Regular priceUnit price / per -
Flower Girls – the joy of digging in the earth
Regular price 45,00 €Regular priceUnit price / per -
CUT & Co – The World of Slowflowers
Regular price 39,00 €Regular priceUnit price / perSold out -
Slowflowers – Wild gardens, untamed bouquets
Regular price 34,00 €Regular priceUnit price / per -
Slowflower Movement: Sustainable Flower Cultivation – Faces and Stories
Regular price 39,90 €Regular priceUnit price / per -
Ebook DAHLIENZAUBER
Regular price 14,99 €Regular priceUnit price / per -
eBook "Tulip Joy"
Regular price 14,99 €Regular priceUnit price / per
THE COTTAGE GARDEN – Enchanted, dreamy and romantic
Today, it's the epitome of charm and nonchalance, full of blossoms, fragrance, and joie de vivre. Colorful sustainability, a habitat for many beneficial insects, and garden enjoyment instead of gardening....
THE COTTAGE GARDEN – Enchanted, dreamy and romantic
Today, it's the epitome of charm and nonchalance, full of blossoms, fragrance, and joie de vivre. Colorful sustainability, a habitat for many beneficial insects, and garden enjoyment instead of gardening....
11 TIPS FOR A MAGNIFICENT DAHLIA SUMMER
Dahlias are one of the most colorful and wonderful flowers that will brighten up your garden, patio or balcony. What you absolutely need to know so that nothing stands in...
11 TIPS FOR A MAGNIFICENT DAHLIA SUMMER
Dahlias are one of the most colorful and wonderful flowers that will brighten up your garden, patio or balcony. What you absolutely need to know so that nothing stands in...
How to successfully sow flower seeds
Has the tingling in your fingers already started? The days are getting longer, the sun is getting warmer, and the morning birdsong is putting us in a good mood and...
How to successfully sow flower seeds
Has the tingling in your fingers already started? The days are getting longer, the sun is getting warmer, and the morning birdsong is putting us in a good mood and...
COOL FLOWERS – Only the tough ones get into the garden
It wasn't all that long ago that I stumbled upon Cool Flowers (Hardy Annuals). A little-known "concept" here, even though nature shows us the way every year. And for me,...
COOL FLOWERS – Only the tough ones get into the garden
It wasn't all that long ago that I stumbled upon Cool Flowers (Hardy Annuals). A little-known "concept" here, even though nature shows us the way every year. And for me,...
VIDEO: What you may not have known about tulips
This tulip knowledge surprised me! When I was back in Holland a while ago, I was initiated into the secrets and lengthy processes of tulip cultivation. I also learned so...
VIDEO: What you may not have known about tulips
This tulip knowledge surprised me! When I was back in Holland a while ago, I was initiated into the secrets and lengthy processes of tulip cultivation. I also learned so...
Keine Angst vorm Rosenschnitt mit diesen Experten-Tipps
Christian Schultheis – owner of Germany’s oldest rose nursery – in an interview Every year, just before the forsythias bloom, I am overcome by a short but intense panic attack....
Keine Angst vorm Rosenschnitt mit diesen Experten-Tipps
Christian Schultheis – owner of Germany’s oldest rose nursery – in an interview Every year, just before the forsythias bloom, I am overcome by a short but intense panic attack....
22 KLIMAHELDEN – Blütenfülle mit trockenheitsresistenten Pflanzen
How about enjoying a magical, flower-filled garden without constantly having to worry about watering it? In times of climate change and hot, dry summers, that's certainly an important consideration. When...
22 KLIMAHELDEN – Blütenfülle mit trockenheitsresistenten Pflanzen
How about enjoying a magical, flower-filled garden without constantly having to worry about watering it? In times of climate change and hot, dry summers, that's certainly an important consideration. When...
11 TIPS FOR A LOW-CARE GARDEN – Enjoyment instead of work
Mowing, hoeing, weeding, watering and fertilizing – a garden can keep you busy. If it, which should actually be a place of relaxation, rest and wonder, takes up more and...
11 TIPS FOR A LOW-CARE GARDEN – Enjoyment instead of work
Mowing, hoeing, weeding, watering and fertilizing – a garden can keep you busy. If it, which should actually be a place of relaxation, rest and wonder, takes up more and...
KOSMEEN – A flower-rich summer with cosmos
No summer without cosmos! If you are looking for a flower that will bring you joy all summer long, is absolutely uncomplicated and turns your garden into a sea of...
KOSMEEN – A flower-rich summer with cosmos
No summer without cosmos! If you are looking for a flower that will bring you joy all summer long, is absolutely uncomplicated and turns your garden into a sea of...
Native wildflowers make your garden even more colorful!
With a garden we bring a piece of pure nature into our own four walls – or so we think. No way! The typical garden, filled with plants commonly offered...
Native wildflowers make your garden even more colorful!
With a garden we bring a piece of pure nature into our own four walls – or so we think. No way! The typical garden, filled with plants commonly offered...
40 PLANTS THAT IGNORE SNAILS
I don't know exactly what evolution was thinking when it developed snails. The culinary-savvy Frenchman might have a garlic-and-parsley-soaked answer up his sleeve, but I'm primarily talking about slugs here...
40 PLANTS THAT IGNORE SNAILS
I don't know exactly what evolution was thinking when it developed snails. The culinary-savvy Frenchman might have a garlic-and-parsley-soaked answer up his sleeve, but I'm primarily talking about slugs here...
VIDEO: The Cottage Garden – Interview with Alex Lehne and Sarah Stiller
An interview packed with tips and tricks (and a lot of fun) on the topic of cottage gardens. Alex Lehne and Sarah Stiller talk about this fascinating garden style, why...
VIDEO: The Cottage Garden – Interview with Alex Lehne and Sarah Stiller
An interview packed with tips and tricks (and a lot of fun) on the topic of cottage gardens. Alex Lehne and Sarah Stiller talk about this fascinating garden style, why...
Der Cottage Garten in der Vase – Schnittblumen aus dem eigenen Garten
Actually, I only wanted a garden so that I could put a fresh bouquet of flowers on my table every day. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. But only...
Der Cottage Garten in der Vase – Schnittblumen aus dem eigenen Garten
Actually, I only wanted a garden so that I could put a fresh bouquet of flowers on my table every day. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. But only...
SWEET PEACHES – About the happiness and scent of summer
The world needs more sweet peas. I think so. And apparently, I'm not the only one. In England, a society was actually founded just for them—The National Sweet Pea Society....
SWEET PEACHES – About the happiness and scent of summer
The world needs more sweet peas. I think so. And apparently, I'm not the only one. In England, a society was actually founded just for them—The National Sweet Pea Society....
Video: The Cottage Garden in Summer
I'll take you on a walk through my summer cottage garden! With birdsong, bees buzzing, and a wonderful fragrance (just imagine it), we'll wander together through the roses in my...
Video: The Cottage Garden in Summer
I'll take you on a walk through my summer cottage garden! With birdsong, bees buzzing, and a wonderful fragrance (just imagine it), we'll wander together through the roses in my...
WONDERFUL DAHLIAS – Great colors in the garden
I used to dislike dahlias; I considered them stuffy and old-fashioned. It's probably less a change in my taste than the incredible variety of varieties that breeding has produced in...
WONDERFUL DAHLIAS – Great colors in the garden
I used to dislike dahlias; I considered them stuffy and old-fashioned. It's probably less a change in my taste than the incredible variety of varieties that breeding has produced in...
VIDEO: Cool Flowers (Robuste Einjährige) – Alle Tipps zur erfolgreichen Aussaat
Cool Flowers are annuals that not only survive the cold, but actually thrive on it. The plants can be planted in fall or early spring (depending on the region). Depending...
VIDEO: Cool Flowers (Robuste Einjährige) – Alle Tipps zur erfolgreichen Aussaat
Cool Flowers are annuals that not only survive the cold, but actually thrive on it. The plants can be planted in fall or early spring (depending on the region). Depending...
VIDEO: The Cottage Garden in Autumn
A stroll through an autumnal cottage garden among rose hips, ornamental apples, dahlias, and roses. Do you love autumn just as much?
VIDEO: The Cottage Garden in Autumn
A stroll through an autumnal cottage garden among rose hips, ornamental apples, dahlias, and roses. Do you love autumn just as much?
FOR A GREAT SPRING SHOW: Get off the couch and plant flower bulbs now!
Today, autumnal, rainy, gray, and cold. Tomorrow, blue skies again, almost warm sunshine, and afternoon coffee wrapped up in the garden. The garden is really coming alive again—colorful leaves, vibrant...
FOR A GREAT SPRING SHOW: Get off the couch and plant flower bulbs now!
Today, autumnal, rainy, gray, and cold. Tomorrow, blue skies again, almost warm sunshine, and afternoon coffee wrapped up in the garden. The garden is really coming alive again—colorful leaves, vibrant...
Video: Flower Talk
Sarah in conversation with Rebecca from Elfenkind Berlin. Topics: Best cut flowers, pruning, ramblers, relaxed gardening, snails, voles, removing seedlings, planting distances and much more.
Video: Flower Talk
Sarah in conversation with Rebecca from Elfenkind Berlin. Topics: Best cut flowers, pruning, ramblers, relaxed gardening, snails, voles, removing seedlings, planting distances and much more.
ODE TO THE AUTUMN ANEMONE - 11 reasons why it should not be missing in any garden
How I love late summer! Bold colors, harvest baskets filled with glossy tomatoes, green and yellow zucchini, juicy peaches, and fragrant plums. Summer is showing its best side once again....
ODE TO THE AUTUMN ANEMONE - 11 reasons why it should not be missing in any garden
How I love late summer! Bold colors, harvest baskets filled with glossy tomatoes, green and yellow zucchini, juicy peaches, and fragrant plums. Summer is showing its best side once again....
VIDEO: The Rosarium Sangerhausen – World's largest rose collection
The world's largest rose collection is located at the Europa-Rosarium Sangerhausen. Across 13 hectares, you'll find over 80,000 roses, approximately 8,600 different varieties, including about 500 wild roses. Join me...
VIDEO: The Rosarium Sangerhausen – World's largest rose collection
The world's largest rose collection is located at the Europa-Rosarium Sangerhausen. Across 13 hectares, you'll find over 80,000 roses, approximately 8,600 different varieties, including about 500 wild roses. Join me...

HAND-PICKED RARITIES
Special & exceptional. Unique varieties you rarely find.

LOVINGLY SELECTED
Always looking for something special and tested by me for you.

ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU
Sarah will be your friend and support you in making your dream garden a reality.