Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image features the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory at sunrise.

Inspired by the energy of Detroit after receiving a “love letter from Detroit” from The Garden Club of Michigan (GCM), Piet Oudolf designed this naturalistic public garden on Belle Isle. Both artistic and ecological by design, he chose perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees for their hardiness, durability, and ever-changing textures and colors for enjoyment in all four seasons. Oudolf Garden Detroit differs from other public Oudolf gardens in that it is run by its all-volunteer Grounds Crew. - oudolfgardendetroit.org

In 2019 Ryan joined the OGD Grounds Crew to help document the construction, upkeep and beauty within each season of this stunning public space designed by Piet Oudolf. Some of Ryan’s images were included in Piet’s latest addition of Hummelo and are featured heavily on the Oudolf Garden Detroit Instagram page. In addition to taking the images for the Grounds Crew you can find Ryan mowing the grass strips in between the garden beds during the summer. Ryan is passionate about documenting and helping maintain this new public space for all Detroiters to enjoy.

The beauty of Piet’s design isn’t just the spatial relationships of the plants he has chosen, but how the garden changes seasonally giving the visitor a new experience upon each viewing. For that reason this gallery will be broken up into the sections, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and a set of photographs showing the construction and highlighting the volunteers who helped make this garden a reality.

SPRING

 

Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon in spring.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows white spring blooms.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a killdeer in the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image is from a drone and shows the garden during spring with a freighter in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a purple bloom with the conservatory in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a cluster of purple blooms in the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image features a solitary white bloom in a sea of red.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some blooms in spring in the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the first blooms of spring with the conservatory in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was shot with a drone showing the layout and spring blooms.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows red and white spring blooms.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image features an interesting photo blooming in the spring.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows purple blooms with the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some tall purple blooms in spring.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows spring blooms with the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image is from a drone looking directly down on the garden in the spring.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image is from a drone looking towards the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a cluster of purple blooms in the spring.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows many different plants blooming in the spring.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some fuller spring beds with the conservatory as a backdrop.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows purple and white blooms.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows late spring blooms filling out the beds.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows bed filling in with spring blooms.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows full beds in the spring.

SUMMER

Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows hula dancers rising above their bed.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows summer blooms.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows summer blooms with the peace carillon in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a variety of summer blooms in purple and pink colors.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the taller summer blooms.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image is from a drone and shows some planting happening in the rain garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the brilliant colors of summer blooms.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some red and orange flowers blooming.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the irrigations infrastructure in the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a detail of a white bloom from above.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a great blue heron near the garden wetlands.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the garden in the summer from a drone looking out at the Detroit skyline.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the Canadian Peace Monument in the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a full bed in summer bloom.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some white cone flowers in bloom.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a meandering pathway that leads to the rain garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a very full bed in morning light.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows one of the beds glowing in morning sun.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the edge of one of the beds with its' rock wall.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows several robust beds with the Canadian Peace Monument in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a pathway leading towards the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the taller plants in the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image features the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory glowing in the morning sun.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the beds awash in morning light.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some white summer blooms in morning light.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image focuses on the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory adjacent to the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image in beautiful morning light features the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows how this particular plant has many colorful blooms.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows many of the mature summer beds.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken from a drone and shows the wet meadows as well as the Detroit skyline in the background.

AUTUMN

Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the main path in autumn.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the brilliant fall color that the plants in the garden have.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the young beds in autumn with their color.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken from a drone and shows all of the beds in their autumn bloom.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a red blooming flower in autumn.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a white blooming flower in autumn.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken from a drone and shows the garden in the fall.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the garden grasses in the fall.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the mature beds in autumn.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows different beds in the fall.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some taller plants reaching above the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the rain garden in the fall.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the main pathway in autumn light.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the pathways looking towards the conservatory.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the grass pathways with the peace carillon in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows the brilliant colors of the garden in the fall.

WINTER

Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken high above with a drone in the winter.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows a snow covered garden on a beautiful morning.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the taller plants that remain during winter.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a winter view looking back towards the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows winter plants covered in ice.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows Canadian geese flying high above the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image is a drone shot looking over the garden and into Canada.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image is a drone shot that shows the alignment of the beds and pathways.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the taller plants as they look in winter.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the plants covered in snow.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some winter plants in morning light.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a snow covered plant in morning light.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a colorful plant contrasting with the snow.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon with the moon behind it.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the plants rising with the beds covered in snow.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the garden in winter with the GM Renaissance Center in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a plant detail from above with snow on the ground.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the garden in context with the rest of Belle Isle with the Detroit skyline in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a snow covered path leading to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and features dramatic light on the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon.

PLANTING + CARE

Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows all of the plants being lined up and prepared for planting.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows empty beds and where the future pathway will go.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers preparing to unload plants.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the unloading of plants.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows people carrying plants.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers sorting out plants.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers unloading plants and organizing.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers organizing plants.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows people unstacking plants to organize.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a volunteer with a cart.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows two volunteers unloading plants.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a volunteer watering plants.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the laying out of the intricate beds.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows all of the volunteers working hard.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows two volunteers with carts.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers unloading a large truck.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows several volunteers with the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows them laying out the beds with the conservatory in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows Roy laying out a bed with spray paint.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows the bed layouts.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows all of the plants waiting to be planted in the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows two volunteers working hard.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows people going over the plans for the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers moving plants to get planted.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the beds already being planted.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a team planting the bed from above.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers putting plants in place.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a close up of plants being planted.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows an auger being used for larger plants.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a team working on planting a bed.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows plants waiting to be put into the ground.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers prepping to plant.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers planning.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a team planting with the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers walking through the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows plants resting in a bed waiting to be planted.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows planting progress in the beds.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows many volunteers planting in the beds.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a volunteer carting away plastic pots.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows an egret walking with workers planting in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows the progress being made in the garden with planting.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows the progress from behind the peace carillon.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows two workers planting with an auger.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a team planting the beds.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows planted beds with the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a volunteer weeding.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows Roy and Austin who helped lay out and plant the beds.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows the rain garden being planted.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the garden from the unplanted triangle beds.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows two workers going over plans for the rain garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows Austin laying out bulbs for planting.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows bulb planting.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the different bulbs being planted in the garden.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows volunteers planting bulbs from directly above.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows volunteers planting bulbs.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken with a drone and shows teams planting bulbs in the garden.

PUBLISHED

Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image features Oudolf Hummelo which features photos from Ryan Southen Photography.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows some of the images in Oudolf Hummelo.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows a photo detail from Oudolf Hummelo.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows two drone photos featured in Oudolf Hummelo.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the spine of Oudolf Hummelo.