Belle Isle will become even more beautiful when an intricately designed garden built with thousands of local flowers opens next year.

Oudolf Garden Detroit, a creation of Dutch designer Piet Oudolf that's set to open in fall 2020, broke ground June 11 on the island.

The 2.5-acre space, currently a marshy field in front of the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon Tower, will source about 90% of its plants from Michigan.

The garden was originally the Detroit Garden Club's plan, but club members and other volunteers have formed Oudolf Garden Detroit to manage the project, which is now more than two years in the making.

Read on to find out what the project will bring to Belle Isle.

Who’s the designer?

Oudolf is a Dutch garden designer renowned for his work along New York City’s High Line and in Chicago’s Lurie Garden.

Oudolf is working remotely on the Detroit garden, but has friends and experts who visit and consult on the project, said former garden club president Maura Campbell. The garden also has a team of volunteers who handle fundraising, volunteer coordination, plant sourcing and design, and more

Oudolf was the Garden Club of Detroit's dream designer for the project. He now periodically visits the city to help plan the garden, and Campbell said many Michiganders already know his name.

"There's something about him — it's really a love affair. Detroiters get him," Campbell said.

How much will it cost?

Oudolf Garden Detroit has a $4.2 million fundraising goal. Campbell said the garden is about $250,000 from that mark.

The money will fund garden design and construction, but will also contain a $2 million endowment for garden maintenance and at least one full-time gardener position. Campbell said those items will cost about $80,000 annually after the garden is finished.

Funding has come through private donations or grants, like those from the Knight Arts Challenge and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

What does this mean for Belle Isle?

Campbell said she's hoping the garden "gets so much attention and love" that visitors are inspired to help revitalize the Belle Isle structures around it, like the conservatory and the band shell. Oudolf's New York City and Chicago gardens draw millions of visitors each year, Campbell said.

"I think it's going to be everything in one spot that makes Belle Isle special to people," Campbell said.

Can I get involved?

Anyone can be part of the garden’s development. Almost 600 volunteers have signed up to help with planting and later maintenance, but Oudolf garden still taking more volunteers and asking for plant sponsors, who can pick a plant to buy for the garden.

The first stage of garden planting, involving 18,000 plants, will happen this September, with another coming in spring 2020.

When can I visit?

The garden won’t open to the public till fall 2020 — various stages of hardscaping and planting are needed between now and then to prepare it.

When it opens, Campbell said it will be fully accessible to wheelchairs, strollers and bikers.

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