It all began with a new client moving in and a front-page feature in a renowned gardening magazine. They desired a transformation from a blank canvas to a flourishing cottage garden by summer. We commenced work in early March, with the design approved, feeling the pressure of a three-month deadline to evolve from low-maintenance buxus beds to a garden paradise. I wasted no time, promptly removing the buxus, digging over existing beds, and crafting new ones. After enriching the soil with a soil improver, the beds were primed for planting. Despite concerns about a late frost, we pressed forward, driven by time constraints and our confidence. Once the plants were in, we embarked on an intensive feeding regimen to promote rapid and robust growth, staying vigilant against weeds. By summer, the beds had transformed into lush cottage garden landscapes, appearing as though they had existed for years. Additionally, we assumed responsibility for maintaining the entire garden, including the pond and woodland, and even undertook the repair and relaying of the old flagstone patio the following spring.