Fresh and Hedge Free Walkway

It's official. The hedge was removed from along the #9 hole yesterday.  Personally, I've been waiting for this moment for close to two years now.  I'm really excited! The hedge was failing and beyond recovery. It was integral that we remove the hedge and freshen up the area to improve the appearance of this high traffic walkway. I have big plans for this space.  The plans are currently waiting the approval of the Golf Committee, which meets on Tuesday. If you have any feedback, concerns or questions please either contact myself or a member of the Golf Committee before the 11th so that we can address any issue before installation is underway.

The concept for my proposed design was inspired by Dutch Landscape Architect Piet Oudolf's designs. I think his design style would be really effective at Quilchena. Mr. Oudolf used mass plantings of ornamental grasses and prairie perennials to create strong impact with a relaxed and inviting effect.  

Piet Oudolf design of mass planted grass

The plan for the area at the #9 hole has three garden beds broken up with two exits from the green to the primary pathway.  The beds would be serpentine shaped and the two larger garden beds would be massed with the grass Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster'.  This grass has an erect habit with medium sized seed pods.  It would be dense enough when mass planted to catch stray golf balls and yet short enough to obscure, but not block, the view of the golf course.  The movement and the reflection of light from the tips of these grasses creates a really ethereal appearance.  Among the grasses would be strategically spaced shrubs for Late Winter interest, when the grasses are sheared short. Prairie perennials and bulbs would be planted throughout these beds to create colour and contrast. The smaller bed on the South side would be the showy front entrance bed planted with perennials and annuals for high impact. Grasses are a really economical option for this area and high impact. These design would be fresh, fun, relaxing and inviting!  

Here is some pictures of the hedge before and after removal. 

Before

After