Designing the ‘Modern Meadow’ has been a lesson in letting go. For a long time, I fought rabbit pressure and the exhaustion of a high-maintenance cut flower garden. This year, I’m saying ‘nope’ to the struggle. Instead of fighting, I’m flowing.
Today I’m layering in Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted Hair Grass) and hardy Echinacea purpurea (yay for free plants!) to create a resilient, naturalistic vista that looks high-end but works with the land, not against it.
Consider this your permission slip to join me in a quest to refine, simplify, and find your own surprising sanctuary.
Let’s dig in!
Kate
Links & Mentions:
📌My Pinterest Modern Meadow Board:
https://pin.it/5uXACG96n
Book Mentioned: Planting in a Post-Wild World by Claudia West and Thomas Rainer – https://amzn.to/4mFOHvO
Designers Mentioned: Claudia West, Adam Woodruff, Colm Joseph, Kelly Norris, Piet Oudolf
Plants Featured:
– Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted Hair Grass)
– Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
– Stachys byzantina ‘Helene von Stein’ (Lamb’s Ear)
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Contact: hello@hellogardendesign.com
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📦 Mailing Address
PO Box 99083
Seattle Washington 98139
00:00 Unveiling the Lower Meadow Plans
00:38 Planting Tufted Hair Grass
05:18 Dividing Massive Echinacea
10:13 Adding Softness with Lamb’s Ear
13:54 Garden Conduit & Unearthing Gladiolus
16:10 Modern Meadow Design Inspiration
30 Comments
Good Morning,😊..beautiful plants!!🌿🌱🌸🌼💚❤️❤️
I’ve been going back to catch up on your whole garden reno – wondering, what metal edging did you use? I’m diying my pathways and haven’t been able to source an edging I like.
So glad you and Brian are sitting "in" your garden. As it has gotten more difficult to garden with bad knees, I've taken a chair with me and work a little, sit a littlle, work a little and sit more 😂. What I found out about me, was how much I enjoyed watching the wild life and what and where to put plants or place plants to see if I really like them in that spot or somewhere else.
Enjoy your beautiful garden and thank you for all your inspiration!
Roy Diblik was the source for lots of Piet Oudolf prairie plants. I also love Dan Person’s garden. I’m trying to make a small prairie garden but it’s a struggle to get ahead of the weeds.
Hi Kate! I love what you are creating and you're inspiring me to do the same. I love that you explain the design aspect of your garden. That is so helpful. Of course, if you lived in NE Ohio, I'd hire you to design a modern meadow in my yard!
OMG Kate, you modern meadow will be so gorgeous!!! Can't wait to see it all fill in!! JP 🌺
Love love love!!! Can’t wait to see your modern meadow mature! Interested to see what other perennials and bloom shapes you choose to add to the medley. Sidalcea would be a gorg addition! 😍
how lovely that you and Brian moved the furniture to such a perfect place to breathe and be surrounded by your garden.
Hi Kate, your modern meadow is going to be beautiful. It’s already beautiful to me. I think you have the dream job can use all of your creativity and create beautiful gardens. I just love that. Have a wonderful day.. ❤😊
So lovely and getting lovelier with each addition.
Last fall, I planted a velveteeny. This is its first Soring. I see it budding, but it’s definitely a tease. I’ll send good thoughts and wishes to yours 😂
Morning dear Kate..its so satisfying to see and hear you divide the echinacea plant..cant wait to see your garden in full bloom..waiting for the garden tour.❤💐💐💐❤
Oh the modern meadow will be amazing! Can’t wait to see it come to life! ❤ Thank you for the leads to some designers in this aesthetic. I know of Piet but happy to check out the others too. Love this vibe so much!
@4:00 – OH MY GOSH! The music just made me smile and giggle so loud! WHOOP WHOOP!
My dear, you have transformed your back garden into the most delicious paradise over the last year and you're not even finished! So happy for you!
Thank you for helping us take joy in our gardens….wherever that takes us. The meadow flow sings to my heart….wish I had room for more than a mini creation. You get what you get and don't throw a fit! It's a journey.🌺
Going to be very nice once all fills out
I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see you so excited about this space! It is looking so good!
Watching you divide those Echinacea was so satisfying! I do a lot of similar work with my Song of India here in Guyana. There’s nothing better than 'free plants' to help fill out a vision. Thanks for sharing.
I think you could describe a Himalayan blackberry and I would want to get in the car and head to the nursery in hopes of finding one.
Snowdrops and snowflakes would be beautiful in there too.
I have never heard anyone on YouTube with such lively and detailed descriptions of plants and design details. And I am all for it! You are a hoot, yet quite the educator while taking us on your gardening adventure. I enjoy your infectious enthusiasm along with a dose of realism in the time, creativity and the budget it takes to create a garden vision. 👏👏👏😊
Alan Titchmarsh – England's head gardener – uses two pitch forks to propagate and divide plants of all types and sizes. He places the pitchforks in the centre of the plant, against each other and gently rocks the forks (careful fingers). The plant divides just where Nature intended and no harm to anything.
Цей сад просто зачаровує — гармонія кольорів і форм вражає.
Ваш сад виглядає як із журналу — доглянутий, стильний і дуже живий.
У такому саду хочеться залишитися довше — він наповнює спокоєм і натхненням.🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Another inspiring video! Kate – I have this one (new) long border bed that was created this spring. And as I stare at it, I have so many ideas and so many plants that I'd like to use that I get paralyzed on which direction to go. I can always count on you to help bring me back to center and focus on my own personal design aesthetics. Thank you! PS: I love the little tufted hair grass!
It’s looking beautiful and I cannot wait to see it through the different seasons 🤗
I love the flow of the gravel path.
Helen von stein lambs ear going on my plant list ✔ lol
I absolutely love a salvia thriller and the lambs ear filler/ small spiller you need nothing else and they are both heat and drought tolerant making them easy to water I'm the summer. Juat great no fuss plants. And both grow like crazy with no fert. Its just a wonderful combo in containers!
Love your vision of the "modern meadow". Would love to hear your plant suggestions for a part sun/shade to achieve the modern meadow aesthetics. Thanks.