When I planted this bed last year I was reading a couple garden design books by Piet Oudolf and was in love with his natural swaths of tall plants blended together. You can see his influence here a year later where everything has grown into a lovely mixture. Of course I cannot stick to one design philosophy very well and I went ahead and threw in some roses and other singular plants that mess up the intended look. I better go back and reread those books!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
My Piet Oudolf Moment
When I planted this bed last year I was reading a couple garden design books by Piet Oudolf and was in love with his natural swaths of tall plants blended together. You can see his influence here a year later where everything has grown into a lovely mixture. Of course I cannot stick to one design philosophy very well and I went ahead and threw in some roses and other singular plants that mess up the intended look. I better go back and reread those books!
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10 comments:
Very pretty, Sheila! I also love Piet Oudolf's work and am planning a little spot in my garden that I hope will remind me of his sweeping palette.
Hi Sheila, Piet is my gardening idol and I have studied his books and everything online that can be found. But, admiring and lusting after those gardens is so different than planting one's own. The swath idea is easier when you have a large space and not a large collection of beloved plants that you just cannot part with. The photo looks fabulous! :-)
Frances
You have only yourself to please. Mr. Oudolf might think you highly original or something. Drifts are hard to maintain when they go out of bloom unless you have something nice like your rose to enjoy. Plant what makes you smile.
Don't apologize if it pleases you. Though as an admirer of Mr. Oudolf's style, I think he would be pleased with your composition.
Christine in Alaska
We have room for big sweeps, so the question is...seasonal gardens, like Gertrude Jekyll, or all-season gardens, which make sweeps difficult in off season? I have compromised by having one garden I call my bijoux garden, full of dinky little things, and then otherwise sweeps. Deer and gophers and rabbits add to the challenge!
The photo sure shows a beautiful Piet scene to me! I love his designs, but also think that we have to interject our own vision...so a welcome to the roses! gail
Hi Sheila, I adore this picture. I recently discovered Piet Oudolf when I wrote a post about the High Line in NYC. Oudolf encapsulates my garden aesthetics and philosophy. As does Edna Walling - do you know of her?
I agree with Gail - we have to interject our own vision. These gardeners are only influences, not models to be followed rigidly. cheers, catmint
Catmint, I had to look up Edna Walling, but I love her style! Very much like my Laguna garden although I can't say I actually had a design style in mind as it happened!
Dear Shelia,
I just want you know how much I love your blog. While I don't comment, every I find a new post in my email box, it makes me smile! Just wanted you to know!
Susan
Susan, Thank you for the kind words! I appreciate them very much!
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