New boarder

[123rd]

Hi, total gardening novice here...
I've got a very long skinny boarder that's south facing. It's roughly one metre wide but well over 20m long.
Any ideas how I can get the boarder looking great with some height to it but not over crowded? I prefer a Cottage garden look if I had to choose.
I love bee/ butterfly attracting plants but am really starting from scratch.
Any ideas gratefully received.

How big is your budget?

I'd buy herbaceous perennials such as peonies, day lilies, and verbena bonariensis, aquilegia, hardy geraniums etc. Buy several of each and repeat.. looks better than random singles.

You might want some structure all year.. some shrubs, and plants bulbs in autumn

In a long border like that you're going to need a lot of plants but with patience you can lift and split over the next couple of years

You could turn part of it into a herb type garden - so thymes, oregano and rosemary. Bees love those.

Lavender will do well in a south facing bed. Bees love it and its easy.

Sow some calendula seeds.

Add some bulbs next spring.

Plant a well behaved buddlia for the butterflies and chop it down each spring so it doesn't get out of control.

Cosmos for height and verbena bonaseries.

Thanks, I know it's going to take a few years to get to the finished ideal so am conscious of not trying to cram kids in there now and then it's just over stuffed.
I will have a looks at your suggestions. Thanks.
I didn't know if you can combine herbs & flowers...

Sorry -I WONT be cramming the kids in there!!

Delphiniums would look lovely and do well in it. They’d also give it some height.