Piet Oudolf's Next Wave, Photo Gallery

After Piet and Anja Oudolf closed their 6,000-square-foot nursery, it left an empty space. Writer Noel Kingsbury was fortunate to witness its "wild" transformation.

To read more about the Oudolfs' garden, read "Piet Oudolf's New Wave."  

Noel Kingsbury is a U.K.-based writer, lecturer, and garden designer. He has co-authored two books with Piet Oudolf.

The Oudolfs' toolshed.

Fluffy plumes of Deschampsia caespitosa grass set off the silhouette of dark late-season Veratrum californicum, a handsome, graphic plant when left to go to seed. 

The patio area outside the office building is home to a clipped weeping silver pear Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula', a whimsical Oudolf touch.

Oudolf's artful balance of structure and naturalized planting is particularly clear when seen from a distance: A view from the top of the office building looks onto the new garden and the fields beyond.

PLANT PALETTE

Eupatorium maculatum ‘Purple Bush’ (Joe Pye weed) A stately native of America with strong structure and flowers that bloom well into late fall, followed by attractive dark seed heads.

PLANT PALETTE

Aster novae-angliae ‘Violetta’ A New England aster that has deep purple flowers. A dramatic combination when paired with the rich reds and bronzy tones of the autumn garden.

PLANT PALETTE

Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ A great upright grass with plumes that appear in early summer and last until the following spring.

PLANT PALETTE

Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ (hyssop) The bottlebrush-like flower spires, blooming in vivid blue from midsummer to early fall, are loved by hummingbirds and butterflies. They offer a structure that works against the looser blooms of other midsummer perennials. 

PLANT PALETTE

Monarda (bee balm) cultivar Monarda has a long summer bloom time, a welcome sight when earlier flowers have faded. Oudolf sometimes uses other cultivars, such as ‘Cherokee’ and ‘Mohawk’.