Robert Irwin, the artist who designed the Central Garden at the Getty Center, has walked the landscape monthly ever since it opened a decade ago. He quietly retired this year, ending his role as shepherd of what he has long called “sculpture in the form of a garden.” Irwin is shown beneath bougainvillea shooting from rebar bowers, one of several visually playful elements of his creation.
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At the Getty Central Garden with Robert Irwin

Robert Irwin, the artist who designed the Central Garden at the Getty Center, has walked the landscape monthly ever since it opened a decade ago. He quietly retired this year, ending his role as shepherd of what he has long called “sculpture in the form of a garden.” Irwin is shown beneath bougainvillea shooting from rebar bowers, one of several visually playful elements of his creation.

Robert Irwin, the artist who designed the Central Garden at the Getty Center, has walked the landscape monthly ever since it opened a decade ago. He quietly retired this year, ending his role as shepherd of what he has long called “sculpture in the form of a garden.” Irwin is shown beneath bougainvillea shooting from rebar bowers, one of several visually playful elements of his creation.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Irwin’s design is composed of three parts: the plaza, the Bowl Garden and the Stream Garden, shown here with its London plane trees leafing out in April.

Irwin’s design is composed of three parts: the plaza, the Bowl Garden and the Stream Garden, shown here with its London plane trees leafing out in April.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

The colors and textures of the Central Garden are captured in springtime. Here, Canary Island daisy in its peak bloom.

The colors and textures of the Central Garden are captured in springtime. Here, Canary Island daisy in its peak bloom.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

A lone blue bloom rises among a sea of yellow ‘Bronze Beauty’ irises.

A lone blue bloom rises among a sea of yellow ‘Bronze Beauty’ irises.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Allium ‘Mt. Everest White’ sends up clouds of flowers.

Allium ‘Mt. Everest White’ sends up clouds of flowers.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Geranium maderense, which can bloom spring to midsummer, brightens the Central Garden.

Geranium maderense, which can bloom spring to midsummer, brightens the Central Garden.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Allium ‘Globemaster’ sprouts bulbs worthy of Dr. Seuss treatment.

Allium ‘Globemaster’ sprouts bulbs worthy of Dr. Seuss treatment.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Though Irwin was criticized for his plant selection in the water-bound azalea maze, he still defends his choice. “I was looking for a plant that had certain properties, and the azalea kept coming up as a possibility,” the artist said, later adding: “There is a famous azalea grower in Altadena called the Nuccio Brothers. For four generations, that’s all they’ve done is grow azaleas. They told me which azaleas are going to do [what], which peat moss to get, how they should be grown. I did my homework.”

Though Irwin was criticized for his plant selection in the water-bound azalea maze, he still defends his choice. “I was looking for a plant that had certain properties, and the azalea kept coming up as a possibility,” the artist said, later adding: “There is a famous azalea grower in Altadena called the Nuccio Brothers. For four generations, that’s all they’ve done is grow azaleas. They told me which azaleas are going to do [what], which peat moss to get, how they should be grown. I did my homework.”  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

“There’s no palette as rich as a garden,” Robert Irwin says. “And the intensity of it — I make this statement all the time: You can’t plan nature; you court her.”

“There’s no palette as rich as a garden,” Robert Irwin says. “And the intensity of it — I make this statement all the time: You can’t plan nature; you court her.”  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

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