You cannot control Mother Nature. As you may have heard in the news lately, or experienced personally, the Great Lakes have surpassed 100-year records for high water levels this summer! It has impacted people across the region and it’s impacted our garden too. The Belle Isle garden site is right next to the Detroit River in the middle of the Great Lakes basin. Our wetland looks more like a lake, and the groundwater is still quite high all over the garden site.
The bad news: This has severely impacted our installation schedule since we have been unable to begin construction so we will not be able to plant this September as originally planned.
The good news: We are fortunate to be able to adjust and adapt now — without losing a single plant!
Fall planting postponed
For all our volunteers, unfortunately, this means no planting this fall. We are hoping to start in June 2020 instead but can’t be sure until construction begins. Please stay tuned to developments via these email updates, our website, and social media. We appreciate your patience and understanding!
A more resilient garden
Piet Oudolf and his family recently visited Detroit, enjoying beautiful weather and lots of summer fun in the city. While his wife Anja and sons Pieter and Hugo walked the Dequindre Cut, Piet met with our team to discuss how to make the garden’s design capable of handling groundwater fluctuations. More information is coming soon, and we’re sure you won’t be disappointed! The entire team is excited about the possibilities—meeting a changing climate with beauty and resilience.
We are more committed than ever to seeing this garden come to life on the site that Piet picked. We appreciate your enthusiasm and continued support!
Thanks,
The Oudolf Garden Detroit Grounds Crew
