Diverse cottage plantings can easily get out of control; introducing too many varieties with unique traits can create a disorganized collection rather than a unified garden. But this eclectic garden maintains an orderly rhythm by utilizing the color red. Featuring such plants as the spicy jatropha (Jatropha integerrima), canna, 'Red Hot' hibiscus (Rosa sinensis) and blood lily (Scadoxus), the cottage garden integrates a wider variety of shapes and sizes without a feeling of chaos.

This common pathway solution — a basketweave pattern with diagonally placed bricks for the borders — unifies the area by utilizing the same material with different patterns.