Border Patrol June 26 2009
Of The Seasonal Walk Saga
By Tovah Martin
Perennnial Palette
Just as the bulb inventory is beyond what most of us have experienced previously, the breadth of the perennial palette far exceeds what most landscapers consider to be their tried-and-true “doers.” Few of these plants are old faithfuls. Instead, Oudolf enlisted a whole new grab bag of talent – even the species are not your typical garden variety. True, he often went for familiar families, but within those parameters, he spread his wings. And therein lies the skill. Only a studied, hands-on plantsman could have wrought this scheme and accomplished it so successfully. Literally, there isn’t a bad apple in the batch.
And this year was a devilishly difficult challenge. Let’s talk about the weather for one moment. It’s been horrendously bad. It rained for at least three weeks resulting in many inches of water beyond what the Bronx typically receives – it came in buckets. Precipitation was precipitous, and sun was so rare that it was literally a nonentity. Fortunately, the border had been amended skillfully by the staff at the NYBG before the plants were installed. Still, the conditions would have stressed any but the most stalwart soldiers.
However, Oudolf’s inventory laughed at the inclement conditions. They are the quintessential survivors. Not only did the echinacea take the weather in its stride, but the generally sun-worshipping Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’, all the sedums (‘Matrona’, ‘Sunkissed’, and ‘Xenox’), the Calamintha nepeta, Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ and Teucrium hircanicum ‘Paradise Delight’ all shrugged off whatever the elements slung their way. Basically, it was a monsoon – and the whole horticultural crew thumbed its noses. The phlox didn’t even succumb to mildew.
