THE MODERN MINT BLOG
What are the best looking, easiest bulbs to plant this Autum? Here are a few we are putting into designs for our clients…
1) Narcissus ‘Thalia’
2) Allium ‘Purple Sensation’
3) Narcissus ‘Actaea’
4) Narcissus ‘February Gold’
5) Tulipa ‘Ballerina’
(We thought about adding pictures and explanations to help you decide they are worth planting – but planting bulbs is such an act of faith – that we didn’t want to give away what will come up in the spring. What we mean is, you get these tough little bulbs and bury them in the dark, let life carry on and forget what you did right now, here in the Autumn… then suddenly, they are poking their heads up out of the soil, making you exclaim with joy and dream of warmer days and shorter nights… so we left the pictures out of this blog post, left you to an act of Autumnal faith… trust us, they are great (and easy!) varieties which you shouldn’t be without in the garden…
You can get all of these bulbs here at Sarah Raven…
Our last advice to give you about these bulbs? Plant them in the hundreds… so that these bulbs will make a fantastic show for you in the Spring!
(For more on bulbs try these books below…)
The Bulb Expert: The world’s best-selling book on bulbs (Expert Books)
Bulb: A Hand-Picked Selection of the World’s Most Beautiful Bulbs
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 …