Renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf is set to complete a new garden at art and design museum Vandalorum in Värnamo, Sweden, this May.
Known for his prestigious projects around the world, such as The High Line in New York, this will be the first garden Oudolf has ever created for a Nordic cultural institution.
With work starting this month on the second phase of the project, the garden will use the full 2,500m² capacity of the museum's courtyard space, where Oudolf is bringing together a perennial meadow, walkways, space for educational activities, as well as a seating area for the museum restaurant.
A place where planting and art meet
'I am delighted that the courtyard garden at Vandalorum is now becoming a reality,' says Piet Oudolf. 'The idea behind the courtyard is that it should not just be a terrace or an extension of the restaurant, but a place where people can truly immerse themselves in the garden and appreciate both the plants and the surrounding art,' he explains.
Oudolf's design features a 850m² bowl-shaped perennial meadow, planned to include some of the best plants for a courtyard garden, as labelled in his sketch.
As a leading figurehead for the new perennial movement, it's no surprise Oudolf's plans for the outer ring of the garden include Allium 'Summer Beauty,' Iris sibirica 'Snow Queen,' and Salvia 'Rhapsody in Blue.'
Meanwhile, his designs for the inner ring mention some of the best perennial favorites like Eryngium 'Big Blue' and Phlomis 'Prima Donna.'
This immersive naturalistic planting design will also have space to showcase artwork and include rest areas for visitors to enjoy, right in what Museum Director Elna Svenle calls 'the heart of Vandalorum'.
Get the look in your yard with these charming blooms
Plant Allium 'Summer Beauty' for a pop of purple color in your summer garden.
