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!
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!