Question
Can you give me some ideas on diffrent plants I could use to create an english/cottage garden for my home.  It is a gray stucco home with a small but steep slope on the left hand side.  The home sits on less than a .25 acre.  I was thinking of building a small retaining wall on the slope and using some rock plants on that side of the house.  I need some ideas on some shrubs to use that will not over power the house and that will soften up the edges of the house.

I live in the state of Georgia and my zone is 7&8.

I look forward to your ideas.

Answer
Gabe,
It depends on what amount you are willing to spend on the project.You might consider turning the slope into a terraced garden using a method of stacking flat paver stones or wooden landscape timbers.The paver stones are more expensive than the timbers. You can go to Lowes or Home Depot or a local nursery for these items.

I will give you some reference material and websites to check out the types of perennials and/or annuals you are looking for in an English cottage garden style(my personal favorite}. Here are my favorite low maintenance cottage garden perennials:
Some of these sources are pretty expensive.I put a star by the ones that have more reasonable prices.Some of these sources I give are used primarily for reference.

Foxglove(gotta have it!)(source:Wayside Gardens,White Flower Farm,Bluestone Perennials*,Walter's Perennials*,Spring Hill Nursery*,Jackson $ Perkins,Shady Oaks Nursery,Van Bourgondien,Van Dycks,Dutch Gardens,Seymour Seed,Thompson&Morgan seed,Burpee Seed Co,McClure & Zimmerman)

Salvias(sources same as above)

Old fashioned roses
(Go to Jackson & Perkins website)

Phlox(tall variety and creeping Phlox which is evergreen and produces brilliant color in mid spring,probably early spring in your zone)
(sources same as above)

Shasta Daisies and Blackeyed Susan(same sources)

Chrysanthemums(aka "mums") & Asters (same sources)

Hollyhock(same sources)

Scabiosa(same sources)

Russian sage (same sources}

Perennial Hibiscus(same sources)This will require some space because of it's height.

There are many more I could list,including bulbs,but with all of the references and sources you can shop around for whatever you desire.Most of these websites are very informative. I wish you lots of luck on your new garden!

PS:If you have any more questions I would be happy to help you out.