Piet Oudolf is in his 70s in the film. He talks about building gardens he will never see mature. There is a profound sadness and joy in that. He has made peace with the fact that beauty is fleeting, but that the skeleton—the structure of a life well-lived—remains beautiful even after the color fades.
And it wrecked my lawn. We all know Spring, Summer, and Fall. Garden centers make a fortune off them. But Piet Oudolf, the rockstar of the "New Perennial" movement, argues for a fourth and fifth season. five seasons
So, this weekend, when you look out your window at the gray sky and the brown mud, don't reach for the pruning shears. Pour a cup of coffee. Look closer. You aren’t looking at a mess. Piet Oudolf is in his 70s in the film