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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Naperville Gardener – September’s Book of the Month

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‘Planting the Natural Garden’ by Piet Oudolf and Henk Gerritsen

Piet Oudolf is the Dutch landscape designer of the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park, well-known for leading the “New Perennial” movement and bringing attention to the structure and look of perennials, shrubs and trees throughout the year- not just to the flowers, which I am apt to do.

Henk Gerritsen was an artist, garden designer and ecological activis. I am easily smitten by a pretty bloom, but years of gardening have made me also appreciate my plants when the blooms are gone. My crab apple, for example, is absolutely stunning in early spring when it is enrobed with bright pink flowers. When the flowers make way for the fruit that lingers throughout the winter, it is a delight to watch the birds feast on the shiny, red crabapples. My multi-stemmed crab is an architectural wonder, now that I have learned how to prune it to show off its wayward, free-form structure. While reading this book, I have come to notice the contributions of other plants to my garden design outside of their prime season.

To make the most use of this book, first peruse the introduction to get to know the authors and what inspires/d them. (Piet is still alive, Henk died in 2008.) Skim “Part One- Plant Descriptions” and come back when you’re ready to make a shopping list. I found it useful to refer to one of my other favorite “books,” The Growing Place’s “Plant Guide,” since the authors are European and their plant list is a little different. I don’t remember ever reading plant descriptions that made me laugh out loud.

Regarding one of the milkweed cultivars, it mentions that “young plants start to pop up some way from the parent, which can frighten the nervous gardener.” I’d love to meet that nervous gardener. What goes on in my gardens would send her screaming down the street for sure!

“Part Two – Uses” offers suggestions that had never crossed my mind. For instance, I have tried to choose plants and colors for a tranquil garden, but never worried about my gardens being boring.

“Let’s be honest, boring is totally different from tranquil,” the authors say.

Each garden type – including airy, blazing, exuberant, grassy and silvery – is accompanied by a plant list. I love lists and Piet and Henk have lists for everyone. Consider Plants for Lazy Gardeners, The Saggers and the Stakers, Plants in No Need of Support and Imperialistic Plants.

“Part Three – Planting Plans and Combinations” is the smallest section with short lists of plants that are beautiful together. In lists of four or five, it really seems possible to have a garden – or at least a small garden – in your home landscape to try some of these great ideas.

 

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Marilyn Krueger
Marilyn Kruegerhttp://www.napervillegardenclub.org
Marilyn Krueger is an avid local gardener and member of the Naperville Garden Club.

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