THE MODERN MINT BLOG
South East Essex Organic Gardeners – a fantastic resource for those who have a garden in Essex and want to work it without the use of chemicals.
They play an important role in promoting organic gardening – which includes (for those of you who need a few tips!) composting organic waste, protecting wildlife, reducing pollution and encouraging species diversity.
(This is one of the most popular books on our Amazon book store – a book on organic principles no less! It is a growing movement that more and more people want to be a part of – so click on the image above to get involved to!)
Modern Mint director Darren Lerigo is a member and gets huge enjoyment from the events they run every two months – on July 21st at 8pm, Founder Director of River of Flowers Kathryn Lwin will be talking about growing wildflowers – do come along to 47 Fairfax Drive, SS0 9AG!
The September talk (at the same venue) will be on Natural Beekeeping, presented by a man we met earlier this year, who runs an exceptionally beautiful farm…
We hope to encourage more Essex gardens to adopt organic principles, so if you are interested and would like to know more about organic growing – do use South East Essex Organic Gardeners, or get in touch with us!
And if you want to do a little of your own research, we suggest starting with these books…
(One of the biggest proponents of organic gardening, His Royal Highness…)
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!