Oudolf Garden Detroit is a new 2.5-acre public garden on Belle Isle, designed by world renowned Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf. Oudolf is best known in America as the planting designer of the High Line in New York City, and Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park. He designs stunning four-season perennial gardens in a lush, modern and naturalistic trademark style. The Belle Isle garden is situated between the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and Remick Bandshell, adjacent to the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon.

A detail of one of Piet Oudolf’s bulb planting designs for the Detroit garden.

After planting 26,000 perennial plants and grasses in September last year, construction is winding down at the site on Belle Isle. This spring, the installation team is finishing up the irrigation system, planting perennials in the rain garden bed, and sowing the lawn areas. The garden is set to officially open this summer, and Piet Oudolf plans to attend a community celebration tentatively scheduled in late August.

Crocus crysanthus ‘Blue Pearl’, an early bloomer at Oudolf Garden Detroit.

Spring Garden Open Days

Over 48,000 spring and summer flowering bulbs were planted last fall according to Oudolf’s hand-drawn bulb planting designs. Select Crocus, Scilla, Puschkinia and Iris species started blooming in March, and the beauty will continue evolving as the weather heats up this month and perennials begin to join the chorus. To enjoy the bulb display, Oudolf Garden Detroit will be open to the public on the following select dates, from 10am to 5pm:

• Saturday, April 24
• Friday, April 30—Arbor Day
• Saturday, May 1
• Sunday, May 9—Mother’s Day

Visitors will notice construction fencing around the garden through late June while the team finishes installation activities and the new lawns have time to establish. To sponsor a plant, sign up for news, support the garden and much more, please visit oudolfgardendetroit.org.

Get the Look: Gardens of the High Line by Piet Oudolf and Rick Darke, Silver Bee, Hand Tied Greens.