When we renovated the focal garden at Ault Park the four segments that make up the outer circle were designed using the same plants and installation pattern. The objective was to create continuity so as you walked around the space it had the feeling of one large garden- not four independent spaces. The garden spaces were to be viewed as one circular garden. Now, several years later, you can see how the gardens are developing at their own pace, and are taking on unique personalities. Many of the same plants are found in each bed, but at varying intensities. Today, it’s the large Shenandoah grasses that unify the four beds. In one bed, Monarda has become very thick and the Sea Holly has thrived beautifully. In another bed, it’s the Stachys byzantina along with the Liatris spicata that is stealing the show.

Any number of factors may account for the beds each performing a bit differently: the angle of the sun, watering, soil variations as well as different gardeners and volunteers accessing the beds. Do we consider this a negative development within the design? Not at all. The beds are nowhere near becoming solely independent from each other as it relates to design. 

“I enjoy seeing how a plant thrives in one bed and appears to be a bit behind in another. It’s a beautiful reminder that when it’s all said and done nature has a hand in how our designs are sustained over the years,” Jennifer Smith shares. “If we wanted to maintain the original design plan, we would have been editing thriving plants and adding, over and over again, plants that had lagged behind in other areas. That would have been a futile attempt to cheat nature and a colossal waste of resources.”

This style of garden is meant to and is encouraged to evolve. We will still add new plants, weed and define plant communities to ensure the garden remains well-kept and within our generous design boundaries. If we wanted a design that remained unwavering over the years, we would have left the previous formal design in place.

“Our focal garden is an example of a more nature-inspired design. If a client wanted many of the same plants, but in a more uniform design, we could easily accomplish that. If a garden is relaxed or formal is predicated on how plants are originally installed, such as in organized groupings or randomly placed, allowed to evolve and the setting in which they are placed,” Peter Wimberg explains. 

Whether you desire a loosely organized garden or one that embraces formality, Wimberg Landscaping can design, install and maintain a landscape that exceeds your design expectations.  Call us, today, 271-2332