This is a movement which belongs to no one.
In truth, because the New Perennial movement can belong to anyone and everyone.
First 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.
You don’t need a garden to do that. Just the pupils in your eyes.
But 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.
It is a form of gardening, which feeds and rewards curiousity.
There are no rules. But it offers a visual language one can learn to speak fluently. Grounded in ecological awareness, design fundamentals, and intuition.
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.
It’s called a movement for a reason.
Because the New Perennialism is not so much a style, as it is a philosophy. Finding beauty in the acceptance of death and decay in the garden followed by reincarnation each spring.
Holding a conversation with “nature”.
Some people seem determined to try and box the movement in. To make it into a fashion that can go out of style. Or a style that can go out out of fashion.
It’s like they want to pin an expiry date on it – so they can rush onto something else.
Something shrubbier, perhaps?
From what I see, the New Perennialism is more like an ‘Open Source’ language of planting design. Like the software Linux – where the whole idea is that anyone could add to its source code to sustain and further its evolution.
After all, that’s how it began.
A Brief History of Timelessness
Originating in the Netherlands, the movement was first called the Dutch Wave and later New Wave planting.
It was a cross-pollination of ideas about naturalistic planting design, art, philosophy, horticulture etc. 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.
Even with its focus on plants and new ways to think about gardens, the Dutch Wave was always a people-driven movement. It was a conscious rejection of all that had come before with British-based mixed border planting design.
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.
Up till now, there’s been no greater source for the backstory than Gerritsen’s exquisite swan song: ‘Essay on Gardening‘. The creative relationship between himself and Oudolf was the genesis of the movement.’
That has all changed.
Launched yesterday in Haarlem, the new book ‘Hummelo: A Journey Through a Plantsman’s Life‘ written by Piet and close collaborator, Dr. Nöel Kingsbury looks to tell the greater story. From early reviews, it’s a revelation combining a full biography of Piet along with the story of his artistic evolution.
He might be the greatest plantsman of our time. But from what I’ve observed, he’s also a remarkable people-person – supremely generous in thought and deed.
All you need is plants
So, here’s the thing. Whether you’re a designer, gardener, or just someone with a trowel, you’re free to connect and contribute to this movement.
All you need is plants. And somewhere to put them.
As the curtain rises around the planet – through the grace of social media, we can plainly see how this movement is inspiring garden makers to explore all kinds of things in their own backyards and beyond.
To impart their individual spin on what it can be.
It’s forging a powerful alternative to the decorative and dogmatic world of gardening that (sigh) still dominates most people’s concept of what a garden can be.
Here where I live, that can get downright ugly.
This movement is about finding the design language, knowledge and imagination to express new visions of the wilder garden. To find the balance between freedom and control.
There’s rarely been a more compelling time to get into a garden. And fortunately for all of us, there are some excellent guides to help show the way.
I hope this blog can help your garden unfold. Imaginary or real.
And with the last of the snow soon to melt, the season and the source are now officially open.
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Special note: All photos by Piet Oudolf used with his kind permission.
A wonderfully open-hearted and welcoming post.
Thanks Patterson… it certainly swam up from out of the depths.
Apart from being a deserved celebration of this style of gardening, your blog is a rather pleasant read as well!
Enjoyed your post. I love this style of gardening because it is all about the plants. I agree wholeheartedly with you on “the New Perennialism is more like an ‘Open Source’ language of planting design. This movement is about finding the design language, knowledge and imagination to express new visions of the wilder garden. To find the balance between freedom and control.”
The plant choices are ever-changing, but it is how each designer expresses their creativity.
Much appreciated Lorraine. Yes, it surely starts with a love of plants. Coincidentally, my new garden canvas/cabin is up in Mono on the escarpment – not so far away from you in Caledon. I’ll make a point to stop by your nursery sometime when spring reappears.
Mono is a very beautiful place to have a garden. I look forward to meeting you here at our botanical garden & organic perennial nursery. Make sure you say hi and introduce yourself, we’re open Wed-Sun 9-5.
Hello Tony
I always enjoy the news and wonderful images from The New Perennialist. I think I told you I was planning a mini New Perennialist garden around my cottage in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is at the end of its second summer, and I love, love, love it. And so do others. It is featuring in the March 2015 New Zealand Gardener (our top gardening magazine) This sort of gardening is unknown here in the southern hemisphere, so it has created lots of interest.
Because I wanted to give my garden a New Zealand/southern hemisphere identity, I have used New Zealand natives as a background framework with NZ grasses as the matrix, but many of the perennials are northern hemisphere
Hi Robyn, Thanks for checking in from New Zealand. You’re a shining example of someone who’s making this ‘movement’ their own – adapting it to your extraordinary corner of the world. That’s what it’s all about.
Hi Tony,
Thank you for reminding us of what is around the corner. Although from the weather and snow we still have here in Montreal I am wondering if Spring will ever come! I agree with this style of gardening and approach. It reminds me of what David Suzuki is trying to say in “The Sacred Balance” when he discusses “biophilia”…our need to be connected with Mother Nature. If more people would approach gardening in the poetic way you describe, perhaps we would all be a little less intimidated about gardening and a little more appreciative of the natural beauty that is right in front of us… we just might notice the beauty in life, in death, in colour or absence of colour, in calm, and with buzzing noise. We just might all pick up the trowel and toll away for the good of ourselves and Nature.
Hello Amanda, Glad to hear my words struck a chord through the last vestiges of snow. I also love the word “Biophilia”, which my fave Icelandic songstress Björk used to name a recent album. And you’re right, I’m trying to do my part to make gardening less intimidating – there’s so much to be gained by simply relating to the dynamics of the natural world.
hi Tony,
Thanks for an interesting piece on intuitive and natural gardening. Encouraging for those of us who do not have a lot of expertise. This was also a very pleasant read. I look forward to reading more of these.
Best to you, Lynette
I’ve so enjoyed reading your posts! I’m in a different part of the country – a dry and windy area of prairie Alberta – and have long been experimenting with perennials combined with xeriscaping. I was calling my look a cottage garden style, but perhaps new perennial movement is more apt! If you had to pick one book within the new perennial movement to recommend, which would it be? I am trying to figure out where I should start my reading, given my Northern location. Many thanks in advance, Rebekah
Much appreciated Rebekah. Sounds like you’re capturing the spirit of things, which is what this movement is all about.
Hmm. I really should do a post focused on the books. They’ve been so instrumental in developing my (and many others) understanding.
I still love Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury’s first book together, ‘Designing with Plants’, as it sets the stage for Piet’s approach in simple and luminous terms. Their next book together is more advanced, ‘Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space’ and goes into far greater detail.
That said, their most recent book, ‘Oudolf – Hummelo: A Journey through a Plantsman’s Life’, gives the inside story of how he evolved his style, built up his nursery with his wife Anja, and become a design visionary – while always remaining true to his roots. I just finished it and enjoyed it immensely.
I have the same approach to gardening that it is all experimentation and art. There should be no rules at all, no box to stand in the middle of. It is simply us, a trowel, and a plant. Let go and do whatever makes you happy. 🙂
I love your spirit. For me, it’s a dutch trowel, planting spade, shovel, rake and Hori Hori knife.
I have fluttered into your blog long after the writing time. Beautifully written and fabulous images, which I think you got from PO. I am having a serious re-read of Gerritson’s Essay on Gardening for a review (even later in the day) of the book, reprinted and up for French/German translation. I have superficially trawled the internet for information on Rob Leopold and Henk. Why so little when Theophrastus and Clusius arrive in the same list rubbing shoulders with the most obscure and immediately forgettable garden journalists?
I secretly hope people will dive into the archives here so, delighted to hear of your latent discovery. This post, is for me, something of a credo, my attempt to try and bring this “movement” poetically down to earth and up to date. Yes, the images came courtesy of Piet, as have stories of his times spent with Henk and Rob – talking late into the night about gardens and philosophy. For him, that was a pivotal time that set much of the foundation for what was to follow.
When I did the Gardens Illustrated Tour to the Dutch Northern Provinces with Nöel Kingsbury, he produced a folio of Rob Leopold’s which contained some of his writings – and I photographed some of the pages. There’s also an online memorial for Rob with his writings and remembrances from his closest friends, including Piet and Henk. Here’s the URL: http://www.robleopoldmemorial.nl/home_e.htm
I also treasure ‘Essay on Gardening’ but am currently re-reading ‘Planting, A New Perspective’, which I’m really liking the umpteenth time around. Thanks for stopping by…
I just found all these wonderful sites after checking out the speakers for the OHA’s convention in Kingston this July. What a find for me. Thanks so much Tony.
You’re very welcome. See you in Kingston!