The Oudolf Garden Detroit Grounds Crew worked with Piet Oudolf, InSite Design Studio and Natural Community Services to restore and beautify the Native Meadows—the low lying, southern portion of the garden site that hugs the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon. The team’s goal was to rehabilitate these areas adjacent to Lake Tacoma with native shrubs, flowering plants, sedges and rushes well-suited to the terrain. We studied the unique lakeplain prairie habitats that originally thrived in coastal southeast Michigan. The western portion of the site also includes a delineated wetland that remains in its natural state.
Officially named the Jean Wright Hudson Peace Meadows, this area opened in October of 2024 in honor of founding grounds crew member Jean Hudson, whose passion for gardening, nature and community has lifted us all. Thanks to funding from the Erb Family Foundation, the east meadow also features a wooden boardwalk to immerse visitors into this beautiful and unique native habitat.
Quick Facts
| West Meadow Area | 0.38 Acres |
| East Meadow Area | 0.87 Acres |
| Total Native Meadows Area | 1.25 Acres |
| Plant Type | Varieties | Plants |
|---|---|---|
| Grasses, Sedges, Rushes | 27 | 2,434 |
| Forbs | 47 | 12,805 |
| Shrubs | 12 | 118 |