Several different planting concepts form the backbone of the plan,
characterised by Oudolf’s signature style, which he describes as “romantic,
nostalgic, not wild, organic, spontaneous”. A central walkway runs down the
space, defined by oval grassy plinths or mounds and surrounded by long,
amorphous beds featuring the tall perennials we associate with Oudolf –
veronicastrum, sanguisorba, filipendula, cimicifuga, thalictrum, rudbeckia,
eupatorium. What is notable about Oudolf’s design as it appears on plan is
the way he has chosen to clump plants together here as opposed to arraying
them in drifts, his usual habit. This will be a garden in which to stop and
stare.
At the bottom of the slope, an irregular rectangle of pond is to be created,
some 15 metres wide, fed by a “perched” spring further up the hillside. This
wetter area is to be planted with irises and Lobelia tupa. At the top of the
slope will be the sporobolus meadow, its basis the American prairie grass
which is to be interplanted with the likes of Achillea ‘Feuerland’,
Echinacea pallida ‘Hula Dancer’, Amsonia hubrichtii, Lythrum salicaria
‘Swift’ and the strawberries-and-cream Sedum ‘Coral Reeves’. The overall
plant choice indicates that Oudolf is adding more complexity and detail to
his designs, in tune with the general trajectory of planting design at the
moment.
The cloister garden – enclosed by the main gallery building – is interesting
as an example of small-scale Oudolf, given that his work is often criticised
for its lack of application in domestic gardens. The planned matrix provides
food for thought, with an underblanket of the molinia grass ‘Moorhexe’ and
islands of Sesleria autumnalis punctured by bursts of Clematis heracleifolia
‘China Purple’, Euphorbia griffithii ‘Dixter’, the astrantia ‘Venice’,
Actaea ‘Brunette’ and Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’. Perhaps it’s a matter
of: do try this at home.
At the moment the field is bare and the cloister unbuilt. Planting commences
in spring, with the garden opening in June. In the meantime, Hauser Wirth
is objecting to a proposed 40-acre “solar farm” of black solar panels on
adjacent land. Welcome to the glories of the English countryside!
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