Gardening enthusiasts often face a challenge: limited space in their gardens. Yet, plant lovers, myself included, always find room for one more addition. When a plant doesn’t thrive or eventually fades away, it creates an opportunity for something new.
This spontaneous approach isn’t always ideal for garden design. Although I attempt to plan, a visit to a nursery often leads me to discover a new plant that I must find space for. I carefully consider each plant’s requirements to ensure it will flourish and strive to place it in a spot where it complements neighboring plants in terms of color, form, and texture.
Some designers excel in this field, such as Dutch designer Piet Oudolf, renowned for his work on The High Line in New York City. Oudolf’s gardens are celebrated for their bold groupings of herbaceous perennials, creating a dynamic, ever-evolving landscape. My own garden is constantly changing, but its size limits the extent of such dramatic plant groupings.
Despite the challenges, I continue to experiment. My garden isn’t spacious enough to accommodate extensive, cohesive plantings, and a single visit to a nursery or plant swap can disrupt my carefully considered arrangements. My design may not always adhere to traditional principles, but I find beauty in its eclectic mix.
For instance, my lavender bed looks stunning in bloom but less impressive once the flowers fade. My collection of echinacea, a blend of various colors, defies conventional design rules, yet I cherish it.
While my garden lacks the structured elegance of a Barnett Newman painting, it resembles a Jackson Pollock canvas, full of vibrant splashes. Restricting color choices would limit my ability to feature unique new plants. Breeders like Dan Heims, who specializes in creating intricate hues of heucheras, only complicate this decision.
Houseplants also need their summer respite outdoors, necessitating space for their display. Some plants hold sentimental value, remaining in my garden despite their questionable fit. Decades-old shrubs have become integral to my garden, and I’m now incorporating more native plants, aligning with current trends.
In essence, I garden for various reasons—whether to please the eye, challenge the elements, or evoke nostalgia. Above all, the joy of watching plants grow is what truly drives my passion.