Wild: Exploring the Naturalistic Garden Revolution
Blending ecological resilience and artistic vision for landscapes evolving with nature.
Wild: The Naturalistic Garden â A Global Perspective
Wild may be the defining term in todayâs landscape design vocabulary, yet its meaning is as complex as the gardens it seeks to describe. Noel Kingsburyâs book, Wild: The Naturalistic Garden, masterfully examines this complexity: what does it mean for a garden to be truly wild, and where do design, management, and nature intersect?
This book is much more than a pictorial journey. With Claire Takacsâ evocative photography and Kingsburyâs incisive narrative, it surveys over 40 gardens worldwide, chronicling the evolution and philosophy of naturalistic planting as it is being enacted across cultures and climates.
What Does ‘Wild’ Mean in the Garden?
The contemporary use of wild in garden design brims with contradictions. Any presence of human interference â be it planting, pruning, or landscape manipulation â suggests an imitation of nature rather than authentic wilderness. Kingsbury confronts this paradox head-on, noting that while gardens may echo natural forms, genuine wildness is elusive within managed landscapes.
- Wild â Untouched: Most so-called wild gardens are carefully orchestrated, balancing freedom and control.
- Planet-Friendly Focus: The trend toward wild gardens is driven by desires for sustainability, biodiversity, and ecological balance.
- Design vs. Nature: Designers selectively recreate aspects of nature, blurring boundaries between what is managed and what is spontaneous.
The Evolution of Naturalistic Planting
Naturalistic gardening represents a dramatic shift in horticultural aesthetics. Forget manicured lawns and rigid rows; todayâs gardens favor loose, dynamic arrangements, encouraging plants to intermingle and evolve.
- Ecological Awareness: New designs prioritize native species, biodiversity, and resilience to climate extremes.
- Changing Aesthetics: The fashion has moved from control and order to a celebration of irregularity, movement, and wild forms.
- Global Movement: From East Sussex to Australia, designers respond to local conditions, using drought-resistant, native, or site-specific plants to yield sustainable yet evocative landscapes.
Gardens Across Continents and Climates
One of the bookâs core strengths is its breadthâa survey of gardens designed under various climatic challenges, showing how âwildâ design adapts globally.
- Dry and Exposed Landscapes: Miguel Urquijo and Renate Kastnerâs Water Mill garden in Spain uses clipped yews and native heathers, resonating with the distant mountains while withstanding altitude extremes.
- Micro-Climate Creation: Keith Wileyâs Wildside in Devon, England features dramatic earthworks and sculptural mounds that form unique pockets for diverse planting, forging manmade wilderness within a single plot.
- International Examples: The book highlights gardens in France, the United States, Australia, and beyondâeach interpreting wildness according to local climate, flora, and gardening traditions.
Defining Wildness: Orchestrated vs. Spontaneous Spaces
The ordering of gardens in Wild reflects their gradation from highly managed spaces to looser, more spontaneous environments. Yet Kingsbury insists there is no clear line: even the wildest garden is shaped by human hand.
What others are reading
| Garden Type | Level of Management | Wildness Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Perennial Borders | High | Low |
| Meadow Plantings | Moderate | Medium |
| Spontaneous Self-Seeding Gardens | Low | High |
- Orchestrated gardens use deliberate composition and maintenance to evoke wildness.
- Looser gardens allow plants to interact more freely, embracing unpredictability and change.
Design Techniques: Balancing Culture and Nature
Naturalistic design is not merely about letting plants grow unbridled; it is an ongoing process of editing, managing, and framing. Kingsbury discusses:
- Editing: Selective removal or encouragement of certain species to maintain balance and aesthetic intent.
- Clipping and Training: Woody plants and shrubs are skillfully clippedânot for rigidity but to add sculptural interest and contrast with wild plantings.
- Hardscape Elements: The use of subtle fencing, pathways, and landscape features frames wilder plantings, creating visual order amidst a sea of spontaneity.
Such interventions do not stifle wildness; rather, they enrich it, merging horticultural artistry with ecological function.
Biodiversity: Integrating Woody Plants and Perennials
Biodiversity lies at the heart of Kingsburyâs wild garden philosophy. Citing research and personal experience, he shows that the inclusion of woody plantsâshrubs and small treesâdramatically boosts ecological value.
- Woody species are keystone plants, supporting wildlife and creating complex layers.
- Designers are challenged to integrate shrub and tree layers, not just as edges but embedded within the garden to foster rich habitats.
- Winter structure: Woody plants provide visual and ecological interest during dormant seasons when perennials fade.
Challenging Conditions: Designing for Sustainability
Naturalistic gardens thrive in adversity. Kingsburyâs selections include gardens that prosper under drought, poor soils, wind, and exposure, proving that wild design can be beautiful and robust even in tough environments.
- Native and site-specific plants are chosen for resilience and ecological harmony.
- Designers create micro-habitats and varied conditions even within small plotsâa lesson in maximizing biodiversity everywhere.
Designers and Influences Shaping the Movement
The book showcases work from a roster of internationally renowned designers whoâve shaped the look and philosophy of wild gardens:
- Piet Oudolf: Pioneer of the new perennial movement, emphasizing natural forms and seasonal dynamics.
- Sean Hogan: Innovator in drought-tolerant, flora-rich landscapes.
- Dan Pearson: Champion of ecological integration and site-specific design.
Each designer brings a unique approach to wildness, from the European meadows to California chaparral and Australian dry gardensâdemonstrating the versatility and universality of naturalistic planting.
The Blurred Boundaries: Nature, Culture, and Change
Kingsburyâs narrative insists that gardens exist in continual transition. Naturalistic planting is a journey, accepting the inevitability of change and the impossibility of absolute control.
- Editing and management adapt as the garden matures and interacts with surrounding wild flora.
- Cultural influences remainâpruning, training, and structure are woven alongside spontaneous plantings.
- âWildâ gardening is not an endpoint but a perpetual dialogue between gardener and landscape.
Wildness in Practice: What Gardeners Can Learn
- Embrace the unpredictableâallow some self-seeding and serendipity.
- Design with both native and non-native plants if ecologically appropriate.
- Use hardscape and clipped elements to highlight areas of wild planting.
- Edit plants intuitively, focusing on habitat value and visual appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is it possible to create a truly wild garden?
A: While a garden can draw closely on natural forms and processes, any element of human intervention means itâs a managed landscapeââwildnessâ in gardens is always a balance, not an absolute.
Q: What are the ecological benefits of naturalistic planting?
A: Naturalistic gardens boost biodiversity, provide habitats for wildlife, and can be more sustainable, requiring less irrigation, fertilizer, and chemical control than conventional gardens.
Q: How do clipped woody plants fit in with the wild aesthetic?
A: Clipped shrubs and small trees add structure and artistry without undermining wildnessâthey highlight the contrast, give gardens winter interest, and support ecological complexity.
Q: Are naturalistic gardens harder to maintain?
A: Maintenance shifts from rigid control to adaptive managementâediting, selective intervention, and ongoing adaptation to changing conditions and plant communities.
Q: Can I apply these principles in urban or small-scale gardens?
A: Absolutely. Wild gardening works at any scale: utilize local plants, diversify layers, and experiment with micro-habitats. Even container gardens can integrate naturalistic ideas.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Wild Gardening
Noel Kingsburyâs Wild: The Naturalistic Garden is a call for gardeners and designers to rethink their approach to landscape. In a world where sustainability and ecological responsibility are paramount, wild gardens offer more than beauty; they provide resilience, habitat, and a reconciliation of nature and culture.
- Wild gardens are the forefront of design innovation, pushing boundaries of aesthetics and ecological consciousness.
- Sustainability demands a new level of creativity, sensitivity, and openness to change.
- Biodiversity integration is essential for ecological health and year-round interest.
Kingsburyâs vision is both hopeful and practical: by moving beyond old constraints, gardeners everywhere can help foster landscapes where nature and artistry meet.
References
- https://www.gardenista.com/posts/required-reading-wild-naturalistic-garden-noel-kingsbury/
- https://pacifichorticulture.org/articles/the-interface-of-nature-and-culture-with-garden-futurist-noel-kingsbury/
- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59456516-wild
- https://cloveandcreek.com/products/wild-the-naturalistic-garden
- https://www.phaidon.com/en-us/products/wild-the-naturalistic-garden
- https://www.thenewperennialist.com/noel-kingsbury-wild-about-the-future/
- https://food52.com/story/27578-garden-tips-from-wild-by-noel-kingsbury
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