THE MODERN MINT BLOG
The Design Process
A typical design process will go like this:
Job Specification – we will meet with all the users of the garden on-site and find out what you want, what you need and what potential scope your garden project has.
This is the most important part as it sets out clearly what a succesful project will feel like, and gets us in sync with you right from the start.
Survey – the structural basis of the design work.
Outline Design – initial concepts and ideas are presented, allowing for further discussion and development with you.
Final Design – Detailed plans and specifications are finalised in order to begin the work of constructing and planting your garden.
Construction and Project Management – our craftspeople will come in and make the design happen.
After Care – we will make sure you have all the advice and guidance in place to help your garden grow. We also hope that through the process of designing the garden you will end up a wiser, better informed and more involved garden owner. Now that makes it worthwhile for us!
Topiary, The Art Garden at The Henderson
The Art Garden at The Henderson in Hong-Kong has now opened to the public. I joined the project last March, to work with Gillespies Landscape Architects on the topiary that had been designed for the Art Garden, which gives a calm, green space below the extraordinary Henderson skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The garden has been designed with butterflies in mind, so lots of nectar plants, and has other art projects and installations within its footprint. The history of the site is interesting too – it was originally the first cricket ground in Hong-Kong! So still a green space….! …
ClipFest 2025
On Sunday June 22nd there will be Clipfest 2025 at Ichi-Coo Park in Surrey. It is a celebration of all things pruning and topiary, and I will be there in my capacity of teacher at the European Boxwood and Topiary Society to demonstrate tool cleaning and sharpening, and how to clip. Tickets can be found here on Eventbrite. We are hoping for great weather and to see lots of keen pruners getting their shears out and joining us at this amazing garden! And for more on topiary…
Secateur Holders
A present arrived from Norway today, from a student who visited last February to work with Chris Poole and I on learning topiary. His new hobby – a beautiful and neatly stitched secateur holder. Thrilled with this! The holder will save me keep losing my secatuers too…! Thank you Bernt! It was the same student who introduced me to the APA with whom I am doing a talk at the end of March. Tickets can be bought here for ‘Defining The Essence – Aesthetic Pruning in the Garden’. Do join the European Boxwood and Topiary Society for that!