Piet Oudolf's Urban Perennial Garden
Medieval canals with bridges, vaulted cellars, and café terraces along the quay walls, colorful markets, and a rich cultural life give the university city of Utrecht a vibrant atmosphere. The Oude Hortus, the old botanical garden founded in 1639, is a green oasis and reflects the medical and botanical sciences at its center. The modern metropolis of Utrecht, which has been expanding since the 20th century, is characterized by new neighborhoods and contemporary architecture, as well as the Maxima Park in the west of the city, named after the Dutch queen. This 200-hectare urban park in the bustling Leidsche Rijn district was designed by Adriaan Geuze of West 8, one of the largest architectural firms in the Netherlands.
Within the park, the Vlinderhof is a very special garden. The distinctive perennial garden by internationally renowned landscape architect Piet Oudolf is not only the result of a resident initiative, but is also maintained by them as an urban community garden. Under the guidance of Marc Kikkert, with the help of many volunteers, this challenge is being met successfully. The dedicated resident with gardening experience particularly appreciates: "The merging of culture and nature, ensuring a sustainable environment, and stimulating residents' interest in gardening. Greenery connects!"*
From a grassy hill, there is a comprehensive view of around one hundred different perennials and grasses in a variety of colors and forms. The perennial meadow lies like an elongated, organically shaped island against a backdrop of trees. Curved lawn paths divide the planting into flowerbeds. From shady borders, white flowering candles of the candle knotweed (Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Alba') and the flower cups of autumn anemones (Anemone rupicola hybrid 'Wild Swan') glow between transparent grasses such as Molinia 'Transparent' and Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau'. The spectacular, long-flowering and profusely flowering new perennial 'Wild Swan' surprises with its contrasting gray-blue backside. In sunny beds, however, cheerful colors predominate: the blue of globe thistles (Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue'), the pink of coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea 'Fatal Attraction' and E. pallida), the brick red of sneezes (Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty' and 'Rubinzwerg'), the purple of whorled sage (Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'), and the many green, bronze, and wheat-yellow tones of grasses. With every breeze, they conjure movement and lightness into the meadow and atmospherically capture the low, warm light of early morning or evening. The Vlinderhof is an oasis for wild bees and butterflies (Dutch: vlinder) with nectar-producing, simple flowers, enticing colors, and scents. In the Butterfly Garden, a tuin moet vier seizoenen (garden of the four seasons), you can experience the cycles of nature from birth to decay. In his book "New Garden Design with Perennials and Grasses," Oudolf states: "Nature reveals its splendor every day, all year round... However, those for whom beauty is expressed exclusively in bold colors must learn to see plants, forms, and the underlying structures with new eyes."
* The interplay of nature and culture, ensuring a livable environment, and stimulating residents' interest in gardening. Green connects!
OWNER
City of Utrecht (Gemeente Utrecht)
SPECIAL FEATURE
Public perennial garden by Piet Oudolf; guided tours on request; events such as Stroll in the Garden or Midsummer Evening Concert
www.maximapark.nl
www.vlinderhof.com
