Where choreography meets gardening
Have you heard of Piet Oudolf? Think of the following famous people: Frank Lloyd Wright (architect), Bruce Lee (kung fu fighting), Wayne Gretzky (hockey) Got the picture? This is Piet. The world’s No. 1 landscape architect. A hero to modern gardeners and garden designers. So well known that he packs an audience wherever he presents. And, we might add, as we have heard him speak, he is not a dynamic speaker. He is shy, but such a dynamic designer that his work does the talking. Starting out with a small nursery in Gelderland, Netherlands, over 30 years ago, Oudolf pioneered a design philosophy that became the “New Perennial” movement. It’s a style of design that makes perennial plants the superheroes of the landscape and emphasizes their beauty throughout the seasons. Today, we know Oudolf for his work on big-name projects like Millennium Park in Chicago, the New York City Highline and in Toronto, where he designed the Entry Garden Walk at the Toronto Botanical Garden. A 2017 film about his work, “Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf,” enchanted viewers through the development of his installation at Hauser & Wirth Durslade Farm in Somerset, U.K. Hauser & Wirth is an international chain of art galleries, and Oudolf is a gardener-artist in the truest sense. We had the opportunity to see this garden on a fatherson tour of public gardens in southwest England in October 2018. This was our last stop, the highlight of several extraordinary gardens. Even in October the flower beds were spectacular. The magic of an Oudolf garden is the attraction it creates through the ebb and flow of the seasons. He does not plan a garden, he choreographs it. For all his artistic flair, it is Oudolf’s massive plant knowledge that sets him apart. His work translates well into print: it is graphic, colourful and his co-author Henk Gerritsen uses words effectively. Recently, we acquired the re-released, bestselling book “Planting the Natural Garden,” which is updated in many exciting ways. The book is broken into three sections: Plant Descriptions, Uses and Planting Plans and Combinations. Here are highlights from our point of view: Part I: Plant Descriptions — 25 years of plant breeding have passed since the original edition of the book and there are now more options than ever. New Perennialism does not take a hard line on native-versus-non-native varieties, but many gardeners and designers are drawn to the movement for the breadth of environmental benefits associated with perennial gardening. This includes biodiversity, drought tolerance and not having to buy new bedding plants every season. This edition is an excellent handbook for perennials and grasses, richer and more interesting than old-fashioned plant encyclopedias. Part II: Uses — This is the magic in the book. Not many artists will share their “formulas” in such a clear way, laying it out so you feel you can get there, to the thoughtful and impressive landscapes seen in pictures throughout the book. Uses helps the reader identify the atmosphere that works on their property — blazing, airy, lush, etc. — and provides a list of plants that pair well for effect throughout the seasons. Part III: Planting Plans & Combinations — His colourful, blotchy, hand-drawn pencil-crayon designs are very much his signature, and impressive on their own. As you read, you might feel the urge to pick up your pencil crayons and chart a “new perennial” garden for your own space. The relevant technical information, including “plants per square meter” is provided as tools to transfer to your inner-garden-designer. Go ahead, let loose! A dreamy book about a dreamy style of gardening, with all the tools to help you bring those dreams to reality when the ground thaws — perfect winter read.