Though the Dutch may have pieces of British and French in
their designs, they have certainly laid claim to mastering the
intentional yet organic, if not often savage-looking meadows.
All the same, Oudolf would argue against wildness when
describing his densely packed meadows; he prefers the term
"spontaneity." If he plants one patch of plants in a particular
area and this species happens to sprout up elsewhere on
the property, so be it. It was simply this plant's destiny and
nature's way of surprising us in ways designers cannot.
Landscape artists such as Oudolf and Veltkamp see the
personality of each property and lay out their artistry based
on that personality, making each design completely different
Above: The enclosed space of the Oudolfs' private gardens is where the
acclaimed landscape designer experiments with dragon-shaped hedges
and a varying combination of plants among time and space.
HYLAND
Photographer: Walter Herfst, Designer: Piet Oudolf
that is cosmetic and beautifying as any other flowering plant.
