THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Mother Teresa
An unusual blog post today as we wanted to write about Mother Teresa. Recently we have been reading the book No Greater Love
…and found ourselves making lots of notes from it. Though not strictly a gardening book we
What made us pick up this book and start reading?
It is Autumn, a time for dreaming and reflection. We were searching for something calm and ordered to help influence our own mind, in order to work out what we will be trying to achieve at Modern Mint for next year. Perhaps a few more meadows… or a few more garden talks… did it work? Yes it did. Just take a look at the notes below and allow your mind to find its poise….
No Greater Love
“Always be faithful in little things, for in them our strength lies. To God nothing is little.”
“Do not pursue spectacular deeds. We must deliberately renounce all desires to see the fruit of our labour, doing all we can as best as we can, leaving the rest in the hands of God. What matters is the gift of your self, the degree of love that you put into each one of your actions.”
“If you’re discouraged, it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own powers. Never bother about peoples opinions. Be humble and you will never be disturbed. The lord has willed me here where I am. He will offer a solution.”
“If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.”
“In the work we have to do it does not matter how small and humble it may be, make it Christ’s love in action.”
“However beautiful the work is, be detached from it, even ready to give it up. The work is not yours; they have been given to you for your use, for the glory of God.”
“Spend your time in prayer. If you pray you will have faith, and if you have faith you will naturally want to serve…. the fruit of love is service… the fruit of service is peace. All of us should work for peace.”
“Riches, both material and spiritual, can choke you if you do not use them fairly. For not even God can put anything in a heart that is already full. One day there springs up the desire for money and for all that money can provide – the superfluous, luxury in eating, luxury in dressing, trifles. Needs increase because one thing calls for another. The result is uncontrollable dissatisfaction. Let us remain as empty as possible so that God can fill us up.”
I think we were touched by these passages – they seem to all connect with the idea of being humble, and just doing your work with honesty and love. Just do your work. This is a great attitude to take to weeding, especially when there is much weeding to be done. Or planting a tree – just plant your tree, and do it knowing it will not be you who truly enjoys its stature and maturity – but you will, in this moment, of planting, do it with great love. Fabulous way of looking at the world, and one that finds its partner in tending a garden.
We are off planting today – and no matter how wet, we are going to enjoy every moment of it!
You can buy this book by Mother Teresa here at Amazon – No Greater Love
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 …