3- Piet Oudolf's Private Garden

 

I chose this image of Piet Oudolf's private Garden. I think it envisions what he enjoys as a designer. It celebrated perennials and highlights their potential. The way the sunlight hits the mid-ground makes the colours appear pastel, but in the foreground, the colours appear richer and more intense for the same plants appearing more contrasted just from where the sunlight hits. There feels like there is a movement within the image, seeing the slight and taller plants look like they'd sway in lazily the breeze and the shorter plants may look more jarred in their movement. The varying shapes and forms of the plants complement one another well, neither too over nor underwhelming. The image feels well balancing in terms of the terrain leaning yet the plants make it feel upright and solid in their placement. The white sky above the garden emphasises the colours and doesn't distract the viewer from the arrangement.

Piet Oudolf-

A landscaper, designer and horticulturalist who founded the 'new perennial movement'. Oudolf enjoys the naturalistic approach and the promotion of seasonal interest through perennials as they'll last throughout the seasons. He won the SDG Lifetime Achievement Award for his work, one of the most prestigious prizes for horticulturalists. His work focuses on form and characteristics over colour so the viewer may enjoy the planting regardless of the season and weather.

I like Oudolf's work for looking into the longevity of planting in his designs, working with plants in their seasons is opportunistic and means there's little maintenance compared to annual or bi-annual planting. Having permanent planting rather than needing replacing works well for wildlife to enjoy the planting too. I like the use of height and structure, certain weather and seasons can influence the experience for someone, such as in the wind the plants will move or the texture of plants will appear different on a rainy day. Though he says there's no focus on colour his work does look like it's been considered.

References

Image- Pinimg.com. (2023). [online] Available at: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/25/d8/46/25d8466b2a65c3d8062dcb7dcf169877.jpg [Accessed 24 Jan. 2023].

The English Garden. (2015). Piet Oudolf at home in the garden - The English Garden. [online] Available at: https://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/top-picks/interviews/piet_oudolf_at_home_in_the_garden_1_3941963/ [Accessed 24 Jan. 2023].

Sgd.org.uk. (2022). Profile: Piet Oudolf. [online] Available at: https://www.sgd.org.uk/garden_design_journal/features/248/profile_piet_oudolf [Accessed 24 Jan. 2023].