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A Garden Grows in Kaufman: Cottagecore Dreams and Coneflower Love Last week, we had the joy of stepping into a local gardener’s personal paradise—and what we found was more than just a backyard. It was a living, blooming love letter to Texas native plants, vibrant color, and the peace that only gardening can bring. Cindy Rich welcomed us into her world, where coneflowers reign, butterflies are welcome guests, and every season brings something new to admire. Coneflowers, Salvias & the Joy of Trial and Error “I love coneflowers,” Cindy says with a smile, pointing out her collection of cream, red, and yellow varieties. “They’re not quite as hardy as the classic pink, but they do well.” Her garden is full of similar success stories—plants that thrive after a little patience and experimentation. She speaks warmly about salvia, yarrow, and Black-eyed Susans, which are all making a strong comeback in her beds. “Some things I’ve tried didn’t do well, but then others just took off! It’s a lot of trial and error.” Cottagecore, the Texas Way Cindy’s gardening approach leans into that dreamy, layered “cottagecore” vibe—with a practical Texas twist. “I try to mix it up so I always have something blooming,” she says. “And I like to pack it in—that way I don’t have to weed as much!” Her go-to plants for that natural, ever-changing look include: Coneflowers (especially the red and cream types) Yarrow in white, yellow, and red Salvias of all kinds Black-eyed Susans Pink Muhly Grass Lantana (when it’s happy) Pink Muhly Grass, she says, is the star of the fall. “They get big, fluffy pink plumes. They’re absolutely stunning. I have them everywhere!” Planting with Pollinators in Mind This garden doesn’t just look good—it supports local pollinators, too. Cindy makes space for butterflies by growing fennel each year—not for cooking, but for the caterpillars. “Who eats fennel? Nobody. But the swallowtails love it.” She’s had chrysalis after chrysalis appear on her plants and gets a thrill every time butterflies flutter through her yard. There’s also a giant purple hyacinth bean vine that trails up an arbor and spreads with wild abandon—“It’s like a weed almost, but gorgeous,” she laughs. Tips from a Backyard Pro When asked how she plans out her garden, Cindy is refreshingly honest: “It’s mostly trial and error. I move stuff if it’s not happy.” She pays attention to sunlight, reads plant tags, and isn’t afraid to shift things around—sometimes three times—until they’re thriving. “Sometimes plants don’t get big their first year, then suddenly they explode and cover everything!” Her biggest challenge? Weeds. “We’ve tried a lot—Roundup, pulling—but they always come back.” Still, she says, they manage to get it done every year. For the Love of Gardening Cindy’s garden didn’t happen overnight. They bought the house in 2020, right before the world shut down. After a year and a half of renovations, she finally turned her attention to the yard. Today, it’s a peaceful haven filled with beauty, butterflies, and a whole lot of heart. “I think that’s when God speaks to me the most—when I’m out in the garden and everything slows down.”   Inspired to start your own Texas cottagecore garden? Come visit us at Rooted in Kaufman! We’ve got a huge selection of native perennials, colorful hanging baskets, shade trees, and even houseplants we grow ourselves—so you can plant with confidence. Ask us about pollinator-friendly plants and get expert advice from real gardeners who love what they do. Follow us on Facebook to see more garden tours and get local planting inspiration!