About 400 people gathered at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay on Oct. 17 to celebrate the opening of the new Oudolf Garden, a one-acre landscape designed by internationally renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf.
The garden, located behind the Blue Pool Garden and adjacent to the historic Rose Arbor, features more than 25,000 plants and grasses. It marks the latest major addition to the historic property and its first public garden designed by Oudolf in New York in more than a decade.
“A lot of projects get stuck in the world of permitting,” said Gina Wouters, president and CEO of the Planting Fields Foundation. “So it’s amazing that we were able to pull this off within basically two years.”
Wouters said the idea began taking shape shortly after she started working at Planting Fields, as she considered how to keep the historic landscape relevant while introducing contemporary design. She first contacted Oudolf in February 2023, met him in the Netherlands that summer, and welcomed him to the estate in October 2024.
The opening ceremony included remarks from foundation board Chairman Duncan Sahner, Long Island Parks Commission Chairman Bryan Erwin, Pauline Genee of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, along with Wouters and artist Fiona Tan. Tan’s installation, “Fragment of the Foundations for a Babel Tower,” also opened that day as part of the foundation’s 2026 Catalyst program.
Oudolf, known for his naturalistic garden designs and work on New York City’s High Line, cut the ribbon to officially open the garden shortly after noon. Visitors then explored its pathways and mounds.
Wouters said the garden’s development brought together staff members and volunteers, many of whom spent long days planting throughout June and July. Although the bulk of the planting was completed by July, another 2,000 plants arrived in September. About 22,000 bulbs are scheduled to be planted in November.
One ongoing challenge is protecting the young plants from deer, which have entered the fenced garden. The foundation is using a natural spray to discourage browsing and considering other measures as the garden matures.
Wouters visited the garden the following day to observe how visitors used the new space. She said saw families exploring, children running around, people taking engagement photographs and visitors relaxing on the garden’s mounds.
“It was just really special to see people using the space,” Wouters said, “making their own use of the space on day one.”
The garden reflects Oudolf’s approach to landscape design, which emphasizes perennials and grasses selected for their structure, color and seasonal changes.
The garden is now open to the public. Planting Fields, at 1395 Planting Fields Road, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Dec. 25. More information is available at PlantingFields.org.
