I’m quite certain I won’t be the only designer on GDRT to talk about Piet Oudolf. Nor should I, in my opinion-I’m incredibly thankful to be working in a world where Oudolf is still in vogue, and yes, I think he is, because even though Oudolf-type gardens aren’t uncommon now, I see his design style trickling down to the mainstream the way these things tend to, and THAT, my friends, is exciting.
So yes, I’m going to talk about Piet Oudolf as a horticultural idol, but I hope in a different way from my colleagues. There are so many reasons to love Oudolf’s work, but one of my faves is that, through beautiful design, he’s made so many designers realize “It’s okay to do X.” As in, “It’s okay to use terrifically unique perennials in your designs-they work just as well, and your clients will appreciate that they’re something special,” and “It’s okay to be a plant collector-good design can make it so your collection serves you well too.”
The “it’s okay to” thing Oudolf has popularized in design I want to talk about today is a timely one. It’s late fall here in Mass, and we’re at that magic hour where leaves are gone from trees, but before the first snow that sticks around. I live for this period. Yep, you heard right. There’s a stillness to this time, and an innocence… The newly leafless world is notably quieter, more serene, and I love making note of that change. Winters here are harsh, and they stand out more profoundly for me than other seasons do mentally, like that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Part of me can’t help but feel that, when temperatures drop, we’ve all returned to our natural state, the trees and me.
What does this have to do with Piet Oudolf, you ask? Well, another thing he says is “It’s okay to love senescence-brown can be beautiful.” and I love that he gives voice to that quality in the garden. We Americans, though not necessarily fastidious, tend to want to be tidy in the garden. If I completely “cleaned up” my garden before spring, I’d miss all this gorgeousness. Take a gander.
Check out the rest of the Roundtable’s take on idols, with special guest Thomas Rainer of grounded design:
Thomas Rainer : Grounded Design : Arlington, Virginia
Susan Cohan : Miss Rumphius’ Rules : Chatham, NJ
Scott Hokunson : Blue Heron Landscapes : Granby, CT
Rochelle Greayer : Studio G : Boston, MA
Jenny Peterson : J Petersen Garden Design : Austin, TX
Debbie Roberts : A Garden of Possibilities : Stamford, CT
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Yes! Yes! It’s actually trickling down, and beginning to change American landscape design, even public expectations of gardens. We’re moving forward.
@James: We can only hope, eh? Thanks for commenting!
Excellent post, Andrew. You’ve hit the nail on the head for what I love most about Oudolf. It’s not the horticultural flair-though that’s certainly enjoyable; it’s much more that his plantings celebrate the ephemeral-including the much neglected fall and winter. While a huge swath of springtime color is glorious, there’s nothing quite as moving as morning frost over a sea of seedheads . . .
Well done!
Thanks, Thomas! Seedheads ARE magic, aren’t they? Looking forward to reading your post…
A little secret: my sixth (on pinterest only) designer is Piet. Love. Great minds right? oh and I’m glad you get to enjoy this season, all my stuff is smashed to the ground because of freak early snows…..there is no peace this november, just carnage - which is decidedly not quiet and reflective.
but really, I’m happy for you — in case that was sounding a little too bitter (which I am)
Rochelle, you are sooooooooo entitled to it. We really dodged a bullet over here. Don’t ask me about the neighbor’s tree that is (was) our “view” from several high-traffic areas of the house. Still, though, the smaller things were spared, and it could’ve been a lot worse. Mass weather is a cruel mistress.
It’s interesting to me that it took a Dutchman to popularize the American prairie look. Well said, Andrew - and beautiful images, too!
@Jocelyn: I know, right? How much does THAT speak to the power of objectivity? I’m glad someone did it, though.
Andrew as always your writing is interesting. I also love your sense of time, as in time of year in the garden. I might feel differently, but I like the choice of words, still and innocent! Senescense is fun as long as it doesn’t just become a mess. I operate a kind of ‘you can stay as long as you an inspiring mess’ if you see what I mean! As far as collections are concerned surely the good garden has numbers and also has ones? Love the way you write!
Best
R
Thanks, Robert, I really appreciate that! I’m with you-if a plant is an uninspired mess, I’m not usually a fan. In fact, that hydrangea shot (reg., not peegee) is too flattering. They’re a little too messy for me now AND when they wilt in the summer heat. (I didn’t plant them; they came with the place.) And hear hear re: ones and numbers!
Yes, yes, yes! I think the single most important thing I’ve gotten from the Oudolf philosophy is that plants are beautiful in all their stages, if you just give them a chance. I’ve become more and more enamored of seed heads over the past few years and there are some plants (including, actually, Phlomis) that I actually prefer the seed heads to the flowers (nice as they are)! Then again, I’ve been working on a post focusing on seed heads…so perhaps they are just “on the brain” right now! This year, I’ve been really taking stock of plants that don’t fade gracefully…and am looking to replace them with more structural plants (another Oudolf focus). I love how you mentioned that you feel this time of year is really our “natural state” and perhaps…that’s quite fitting…right now, we are as we are…without all our trappings and finery. I always look at it as a deep sigh…contentment at another year passed…with this the pause before our next adventure :-)
@Scott W., I think I need to assess plants that don’t fade gracefully a bit more in my garden too. I’ll keep an eye out for that post on seedheads! (Isn’t Phlomis the best?)
I wondered if you might write about Oudolf! Wonderful perspective on a time of year that most don’t even look to the garden. Awesome pictures, and your prose completely captures the moment. Excellent!
@Scott H., I guess you know my planting style better than I realized. Thanks on the post and pictures-the trial by fire this year with the camera kind of paid off!
Everything you wrote underscores an experience I had a couple weeks ago when I wandered around my boyfriend’s yard with my camera. He said, “There’s not much to photograph out there right now,” and I said, “You’ll see.” I got the most gorgeous shots of almost bare trees against a fall sky, ball moss on a boulder, dried seed pods-not a flower to be seen, and mostly neutral colors-but stunning nonetheless. Thanks, Andrew-your insight and perspective is so appreciated!
You are going to teach your boyfriend a thing or two before all is said and done, Jenny Peterson. That I am sure of. ;-) Thanks, as always, for your kind words.
Andrew,
I, too, am a fan of Oudolf & I absolutely love your celebration of the color brown in those photos. This time of year, when the reds and golds have given way to russets & siennas, is one of my favorites.
I’ve also been enjoying your podcasts for awhile now…which I discovered through my visits to Garden Rant. Keep up the great work!
-Mary G.
Thanks, Mary! Russets and siennas-yes indeed. Thanks on the podcast too! In fact, a new one is going up today!
Beautifully written, Andy. I love your take on one of my favorite Idols, and I quite agree with you about adoring his “it’s okay” philosophy. And I love your photos, too. Fall is my favorite season of all, and I love when things start to wind down. Brown is most definitely a color, too, and should be given its due!!
Andrew, I’m with you…I actually find trees much more interesting without their leaves. I love to see the interplay of leafless trees and broadleaved evergreens and conifer. To my eye, that’s much more exciting than layers of green. A great post and great photos to inspire!
Thanks, Debbie! I should say I start missing the leaves at some point WELL before winter is over, but yeah, this is when the magic happens. Also, when I’m reminded I need to do more for winter interest in my garden.
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