Southfield Library Hosting Presentation on Oudolf Garden Feb 23

Southfield Library Internet hosting Presentation on Oudolf Backyard February 23

Southfield, MI – The Southfield Public Library will host The backyard guru presents Oudolf Backyard Detroit on Monday, February 23, 2026 from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM within the Southfield Public Library Assembly Room, 26300 Evergreen Street.

This occasion contains an outline and digital tour of the Naturalistic Public Backyard on Belle Isle, hosted by Richard Thomas, head horticulturist for Oudolf Backyard Detroit. Through the presentation the creation and design of the backyard shall be mentioned.

Identified for his in-depth data of crops and design, Thomas has spent a long time learning horticulture, visiting notable gardens and educating plant and backyard design. His ardour started in highschool when he labored at a plant nursery, the place he realized propagation, plant identification and backyard design – abilities that formed his lifelong profession.

The backyard was designed by the internationally recognized plantsman Piet Oudolf. Thought-about some of the influential backyard designers of his time, Oudolf was impressed to tackle the Belle Isle mission after receiving a “love letter from Detroit” from The Backyard Membership of Michigan in 2016. Thomas, a member of the Backyard Membership of Michigan, helped convey Oudolf to Michigan and performed a key position within the backyard’s growth.

The Oudolf Backyard Detroit covers three acres in entrance of the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon on Belle Isle. It contains 32,000 hardy perennials and grasses, lots of them native species, 90 % of that are native to Michigan. For the primary time, the design combines all three of Oudolf’s attribute perennial kinds in a single mission: block, matrix and group planting. An additional 48,000 bulbs, primarily from the Netherlands, have been unfold over the beds to supply early season color. The backyard was featured within the September 20, 2025 situation of the PBS NewsHour.

Extra details about the backyard is accessible at oudolfgardendetroit.org.

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