The Dutch garden designer, Piet Oudolph, is my garden hero. I love his work, and have mentioned that here before, several times. I had no idea that one of his gardens was just up the road from where I was spending the weekend. With my excitement mounting on Sunday morning, we went to visit the gardens at Scampston Hall, where, in 1999, Oudolph began to lay out his design for the Walled Garden. Planting was completed in 2003.
It was a magical visit. I still can't believe I have been in amongst all that delicious planting - waving grasses, dreamy drifts of early autumn colour. The combination of textures - mixing and matching, contrasting. It's genius. Apart from a fabulous array of ethereal grasses, moving gracefully in the wind, seed heads are a particular feature of Oudolph's planting plans. They have been considered and placed to provide beauty throughout the winter months, when they become frosted and skeletal, and continue to be a food source for birds until early spring.
Come on a walk with me, through this wonderful garden. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
It was a magical visit. I still can't believe I have been in amongst all that delicious planting - waving grasses, dreamy drifts of early autumn colour. The combination of textures - mixing and matching, contrasting. It's genius. Apart from a fabulous array of ethereal grasses, moving gracefully in the wind, seed heads are a particular feature of Oudolph's planting plans. They have been considered and placed to provide beauty throughout the winter months, when they become frosted and skeletal, and continue to be a food source for birds until early spring.
Come on a walk with me, through this wonderful garden. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
That garden really appeals to me - and I'm rather jealous. I have many of those grasses you photographed in my own garden, but they have suffered badly from the constant wind and rain this year; most are flattened to the ground. :( I have tried to keep them standing with frames and garden twine, but it's such a shame to see how they have been beaten down.
ReplyDeleteIt's turned cold now and already the lavender-coloured grasses (I don't know the name but they are featured in your 19th photo!) are rapidly losing their beautiful colour and others are also past their best.
Thank you for taking us on a tour through that garden. xx
Fabulous uses of grasses...what a perfect garden!
ReplyDeleteLovely picture of your Mrs R W...looking very regal.
xx