A vibrant and harmonious ecosystem is on full diplay at Delaware botanic gardens
Story and Photography by Stephen Pryce Lea
As May fades into June, the Piet Oudolf Meadow at Delaware Botanic Gardens transforms into a vibrant showcase of floral beauty. It offers visitors immersive experiences and illustrates our team’s ongoing commitment to maintaining natural meadows, edge gardens, and woodland trails. This approach builds on Piet’s concept of naturalistic meadows, embracing native plants and thoughtful cultivars to create a harmonious ecosystem brimming with color, texture, and life—a sanctuary not only for plants but also for the pollinators and wildlife that thrive here.
Native Elegance: A Haven for Wildlife
Our meadows showcase the splendor of native plants in action, from the graceful (Pale Pink Coneflower) Echinacea pallida ‘Hula Dancer,’ its pale pink petals and chocolate-colored cones beckoning pollinators, to the vivid orange hues of (Orange Milkweed) Asclepias tuberosa bursting forth as a feast for monarchs and bees alike. Among these stars, the delicate blooms of (Dwarf Bee Balm) Monarda bradburiana and (Downy Phlox) Phlox pilosa ‘Lavender Cloud’ entice visitors with their subtle beauty while nurturing our local ecosystems.
Asclepias speciosa, the Showy Milkweed and Amsonia hubrichtii add soft touches of texture and blue tones to this living tapestry. Meanwhile, Callirhoe involucrata (Winecup flower) spills across the garden floor in waves of wine-red color, as the bold (White Wand Beardtongue) Penstemon tubaeflorus stands tall and elegant, offering its tubular flowers to hummingbirds and bees.
Bringing Ornamental Flourishes to Native Serenity
Complementing these natives, ornamental selections lend bursts of contrasting beauty. Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’ dazzles with metallic hues, while the charming Stachys monieri varieties ‘Hummelo’ and ‘Rosea’ soften pathways with their plush, pastel blooms. The striking architectural spikes of Kniphofia ‘Sunningdale Yellow,’ a sunny Red-Hot Poker, punctuate the meadows with vibrant, eye-catching forms. In June, Achillea filipendulina ‘Coronation Gold’ adds golden splendor alongside the fluttering white petals of (Gaura) Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’—creating a perfect embodiment of movement and grace. Ornamental hybrids bring variety to the naturalistic design while working seamlessly alongside natives to create a balanced visual palette.
Gardens Full of Life
Delaware Botanic Gardens’ approach is more than visual—it is deeply ecological. Every bloom is a thread in the fabric of a vibrant habitat that supports bees, butterflies, birds, and all life. Plants like (Joe Pye Weed) Eupatorium and Senna marilandica foster connection between species, offering food and refuge while highlighting natural beauty. The garden invites you to pause and appreciate this symbiosis, a reminder of nature’s ingenuity and resilience.
We believe in the power of plants to connect people with the world around them. As the meadows come to life in late April through June, we welcome you to witness this floral spectacle—an awe-inspiring display where art and ecology intertwine. CS
Contributor Stephen Pryce Lea is the Deputy Executive Director of Horticulture at the Delaware Botanic Gardens in Dagsboro.
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