Authors

Piet Oudolf

Piet Oudolf is a native of Holland and originally studied to be an architect. Instead of designing buildings he became the founder of New Wave planting, a movement that takes inspiration from nature but employs artistic skill in creating planting schemes. As a plantsman his aim is to emphasize the form, texture and natural harmony of plants, and as a skilled plant breeder he creates new varieties for these and other specific design purposes. His style is the result of the influence of various horticultural traditions such as the combination of Dutch formality and naturalistic planting styles.

Oudolf has designed gardens in Holland and Germany, and a public park in Sweden. In the U.K., he has created a much-publicized garden in Hampshire and is about to embark on a wildlife park in Norfolk. His own garden and nursery, opened with his wife in 1982 near Arnhem, Holland, has become world-famous. It has appeared in magazines such as Gardens Illustrated, House and Garden, The Independent, Perspectives and Maire Claire Maison. Oudolf is also the subject of a chapter in Page Dickey’s book, Breaking Ground, which profiles ten of the world’s foremost contemporary garden designers. He collaborated with garden designer Arne Maynard to create the garden showpiece "Evolution", which was awarded the illustrious Best in Show and a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2000. Oudolf also partnered in 2000 with Kathryn Gustafson’s design team from Seattle, WA to win the design competition for the monumental Millenium Garden, the new focal point for the heart of Chicago.