THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Desert Island Plants… by Modern Mint
When the amazing Beth Chatto was asked about the plants she could not live without, she said, “Amelanchier lamarckii… Good form in winter, lovely foliage in spring or autumn, prettier than many cherries (daintier) – and interesting longer.”
When they asked the brilliant Christopher Lloyd the same question, one of his choices was a dahlia, “ ‘Hillcrest Royal’ is a spiky medium cactus of brilliant purple, not quite magenta colouring.”
In 2009 Gardeners’ World asked the nation for their favourite flower. The result? We chose the rose.
Now, for the 2016 Chelsea Fringe, we want to ask you again – is the rose still a favourite bloom? Which plants could you not live without? Which flowers must you have if stranded on a desert island?
How do we take part?
Send a photo (or illustration) of a plant you love and then complete the following sentence in your own words…
My Desert Island Plant would be…
What you write can be any length you want – one word, a paragraph or even a whole story – we just want to know why this plant is worth a spot in your heart.
You can send your photo, with text, to us at info@modernmint.co.uk (we will then post it on Facebook), tweet it to us by including @ModernMintLtd in your tweet, or post it on our Facebook page.
You can send us up to 5 of your Desert Island Plants.
Don’t forget to include your name, the plant variety if applicable and a website address if you have one!
What Happens Next?
The best reasons for choosing your desert island plants will be published on the Modern Mint website at the end of the Chelsea Fringe Festival, where you can decide if you agree with the most popular desert island plants… or not!
(The easiest way to stay updated about this project is to sign up here.)
When do we send our photos and text?
Begin sending, tweeting and posting Modern Mint from tomorrow, April 1st 2016…
Who Would We Like To Hear From?
Everyone and anyone!
Have Modern Mint Done The Chelsea Fringe before?
Yes, we have!
In 2015 we curated the project Contemporary Green which was voted a highlight of the festival and in 2014 we made “You Should Have Seen It Last Week…”
We hope you will join us at the Chelsea Fringe Festival 2016 for Desert Island Plants… by Modern Mint.
Don’t forget, the easiest way you can get updates on Desert Island Plants is by signing up. Go sign up now!
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 …