The MSHS series of screening ofFive season : The Gardens of Piet Oudolfhas been super popular during our still chilly final sidereal day of this long winter . I attended the sell - out show at theRiverview Theatrein south Minneapolis a hebdomad ago , and have been intend about it ever since .
Piet Oudolf is one of ( if notthe ) most influential modern-day garden couturier in the populace . His gardens include theHigh Linein New York City , the lovelyLurie Gardenin Chicago and a garden that was the focus of the film , the garden atHauser & Wirth Somersetin southwestward England . During the film , viewers check Oudolf as he goes from drawings to plantings to the complete garden across the five seasons . Much of the prison term , he is at his stunning home and garden at Hummelo in the Netherlands , where it ’s fascinating to learn him draw the Somerset garden and soothing to see him walk through his dwelling house garden in various season of bloom and decay . Oudolf also travels during the class — to New York , the Upper Midwest to visit a prairie and , in an amusing scene , to Texas , where he is blown away by both the wild flower bloom and the barbecue !
In his gardens , Piet Oudolf encourage visitors to rethink what is beautiful and what is appropriate in a garden . The tall grasses and prairie - style plants that populate many of his gardens look “ native ” to us in the Upper Midwest ( because they are native here ) , but in Europe , where he is based , they are exotics . “ If they behave , they can stay , ” Oudolf says .
Gardens can be beautiful in all seasons. This is Oudolf’s Lurie Garden in Chicago in April.
He uses those plant in part because they look intriguing and beautiful as “ skeletons , ” which is how Oudolf describes plants past blossom and heading into winter . His oeuvre is meaningful here because it is about extending the grow season and finding plant life that can hold up and still attend dynamic in late fall and into wintertime .
“ It is the journey to find out what real ravisher is , ” Oudolf order of his sprightliness ’s employment , “ and to discover ravisher in things that might not on first lot seem beautiful . ”
He also offers much virtual advice to gardeners , especially those of us in the North . First , he read , find something that blooms in early on to mid springtime and something that looks lovely in fall , and the rest will take attention of itself . He uses plants in great , wholesale masses and while home gardener can not re - create that look entirely , choose fewer plant and embed more of them in groups is a restraint many of us plant - loving garden should seek to utilize . in the end , Oudolf ’s gardens may expect gaga , but they are not . upkeep , such as skip plants back in fountain , and occasional editing out of any plants that become aggressive is necessary in any garden .
Choose plants that bloom in late summer, like Joe Pye weed at Lurie Garden.
There is one more viewing of the film at 6 p.m. , Thursday , March 28 at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum . Register with MSHSas soon as potential to get your slate to see this singular movie .
Plants past bloom still have beauty, such as rattlesnake master. This was taken in Lurie Garden in August.
