Main Garden

What began in 2016 with a Love Letter from Detroit to Piet Oudolf in the Netherlands Detroit is now a masterpiece of a garden. After the high water on the Great Lakes in 2019, the Main Garden was redesigned by Piet and construction began in January of 2020. Before Labor Day of 2020, over 26,000 forbs and grasses were planted in the 15 beds and the Triangles. Before Halloween in October 2020, 48,000 bulbs were planted. This portion of the Garden officially opened to the public in August 2021 with Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II cutting the ribbon. Due to COVID travel restrictions, Piet was not able to visit the Garden during the construction or the plantings. Piet visited his Garden for the first time in August of 2021.

This is only example in the United States of Piet’ three perennial planting styles; Block, Matrix and Grouping plans. The Main garden is ADA accessible.

Design Sketches

Quick Facts

The Main Garden	1.5 Acres
Beds	15
Planting Styles	4
Varieties	146
Plants	79,833

Plant Types	Varieties	Plants
Forbs	99	21,380
Bulbs	31	50,068
Grasses and Sedges	10	8,372
Trees and Shrubs	6	13

^{* As of March, 2023}

Planting Styles	Varieties	Plants
Block (A Beds)	66	28,126
— Bulbs	11	19,084
— Forbs	49	8,091
— Grasses	6	951
Matrix (B Beds)	49	31,925
— Bulbs	10	20,639
— Forbs	38	6,796
— Grasses	1	4,490
Grouping (C Beds)	40	16,754
— Bulbs	10	10,345
— Forbs	25	5,435
— Grasses	5	974
Triangles	14	3,028
— Forbs	6	1,058
— Grasses	2	1,957
— Trees and Shrubs	6	13
Total	146	79,833

^{* As of March, 2023}

Main Garden

Design Sketches

Quick Facts

Plant List