Nöel Kingsbury looks to tell the greater story. Launched yesterday in Haarlem, the new book ‘ Hummelo: A Journey Through a Plantsman’s Life‘ written by Piet and close collaborator, Dr. The creative relationship between himself and Oudolf was the genesis of the movement.’ Up till now, there’s been no greater source for the backstory than Gerritsen’s exquisite swan song: ‘ Essay on Gardening‘. The leading figures of the Dutch Wave were plantsmen and designers, Piet Oudolf and Henk Gerritsen, philosopher Rob Leopold, painter/plantsman, Ton ter Linden – with Piet emerging globally as its defining creative force. It was a conscious rejection of all that had come before with British-based mixed border planting design. and came about in the early 80s – brought into being through the Open Days gatherings held at the Hummelo nursery in Gelderland, hosted by Piet and Anja Oudolf.Įven with its focus on plants and new ways to think about gardens, the Dutch Wave was always a people-driven movement. It was a cross-pollination of ideas about naturalistic planting design, art, philosophy, horticulture etc. Originating in the Netherlands, the movement was first called the Dutch Wave and later New Wave planting. Like the software Linux – where the whole idea is that anyone could add to its source code to sustain and further its evolution.Īfter all, that’s how it began. It’s like they want to pin an expiry date on it – so they can rush onto something else.įrom what I see, the New Perennialism is more like an ‘Open Source’ language of planting design. Or a style that can go out out of fashion. To make it into a fashion that can go out of style. Some people seem determined to try and box the movement in. Finding beauty in the acceptance of death and decay in the garden followed by reincarnation each spring.

Regardless of whether you plant out a humble rain barrel, or a vast matrix meadow, it presents the opportunity to work with the most mercurial of living materials, shapeshifting in space and time.īecause the New Perennialism is not so much a style, as it is a philosophy. Grounded in ecological awareness, design fundamentals, and intuition. But it offers a visual language one can learn to speak fluently. It is a form of gardening, which feeds and rewards curiousity. Just the pupils in your eyes.īut when you do get into the dirt, keep in mind the main idea of this naturalistic approach to planting design is to dig, experiment, look, learn, and ultimately make it your own.

In truth, because the New Perennial movement can belong to anyone and everyone.įirst and foremost, it’s about seeing plants in all their four-dimensional splendour and experiencing the slow-motion fireworks, which ensue as they flow and interact. This is a movement which belongs to no one.

Anja oudolf