After delays caused by flooding and then the pandemic planting is complete on a new perennial garden on Belle Isle.
The garden was designed by a world-renowned Dutch landscaper Piet Oudolf. A volunteer grounds crew member with the project - Richard Thomas - says the layout is crafted to imitate nature and provide beauty in all four seasons.
“The textures of the plants in their dormancy, the shape of seed pods, the color of stems, the way that grasses dry, all important to the overall design,” said Thomas.
The 4 million dollar garden is volunteer-led and funded by foundations and individual donors. It’s expected to open to the public next summer after wheelchair accessible paths are constructed and the plants fill out.