Border Patrol Early June, 2009
Of The Seasonal Walk Saga
By Tovah Martin
Perennials with a Purpose
But the bulbs are just one chapter in the on-going saga. Throughout its reign of splendor, the Seasonal Walk is dedicated to serving up Piet Oudolf’s palette of perennials beyond anything that the Big Apple has experienced before. From the Geum ‘Flames of Passion’, Echinacea purpurea ‘Green Jewel’, E. ‘Fatal Attraction’, E. ‘Virgin’, E. ‘Vintage Wine’, and Salvia ‘Eveline’ that are Oudolf’s own introductions to the Aster frikartii ‘Monch’, Sesleria autumnalis and Teucrium hircanicum ‘Paradise Delight’, Oudolf’s botanical chorus goes far beyond the NYBG’s usual fare of hard hitters – and the NYBG certainly keeps abreast of the newest and the latest.
Perhaps more subtle than New York City’s usual repertoire, Oudolf’s border is meant to stun by sheer bulk and mass appeal. But it’s also about ferreting out the details and looking closely. The talent scouts will find no lack of promising perennials in the Seasonal Walk, but they’ll also discover specimens that play well with their compatriots. That’s Oudolf’s signature style, in a nutshell.
