THE MODERN MINT BLOG
I wrote a manifesto on Modern Topiary, to remind myself of the ideas I am thinking through when composing a new shape.
You can view the seven rules and a few photos of my topiary work on the European Boxwood and Topiary Society website.
The photo above is two mop-heads with rings run through them, to show off the different types of green you get in a golden yew.
But on the EBTS website you will see a couple more photos, one of which is the beginning of an Olaf from the Disney film Frozen… he currently looks quite frightening because his arms haven’t grown, nor has his ‘carrot’ nose, so I have had to pull up some leaf material to begin the shape…
… and this has given him a sort of terrifying open mouth. More like Jack Skellington at Halloween than Olaf!
Here you can read the Manifesto and see the photos.
And if you want to join me on a course, to learn a little more first hand knowledge of how to clip and shape topiary plants, I will be teaching at Waltham Place in September 2023.
Here you can book your tickets to Waltham Place topiary course.
And below is Waltham Place… isn’t it marvellous?
To learn more about Waltham Place, do watch this free video about the philosophy behind a garden transformed into a wilderness…
Michael Gibson, New York Topiary Art!
In the New York Times earlier this year was a lovely interview with Michael Gibson, who makes topiary and gardens in New York. The article is here but you may not have access… however, search the internet, find it and have a read. It is great! His philosophy of pruning is especially worth it… Sacred geometry in topiary? Yes please! What a phrase! I think (and speak) of balance, of major and minor, of leaf volume… but sacred geometry might well make it into my topiary teaching lexicon! And the idea of directional trimming? I realise I do this, but …
Topiary Library
I do a lot of teaching topiary. I had the opportunity from my mentor, Charlotte Molesworth, to work on her garden and experiment and test techniques and generally try making shapes without the worry of failure, or being fired, or being sued and run out of business for getting it wrong. This opportunity was essential (along with Charlotte’s insistance that pruning standards had to be high!) in becoming better at topiary. When I look around the world at our cultural vitamins, what we see in the media day in and day out, I see the stupidest and grossest of people …
Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue
With Chris Poole of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society we visited Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue in Rutland. Do you know it? Amazing place! Chris and I were teaching a topiary workshop in order to give local people the skills and technique, and tenacity! to help with the pruning of the avenue and elevate it to something even more special than it already is. Read more about the workshops here. We hope to run a further workshop in September 2026, as well as teach an advanced course too. Check the teaching page through the year as it will be updated …