THE MODERN MINT BLOG
The Secret Garden Salisbury is run by the lovely Rebecca Twigg.
This wildlife sanctuary was set up as an oasis in the old city’s churchyard, as a place for people to connect with nature in a previously unnoticed space.
For more information and to plan your visit, take a look at the Secret Garden Salisbury website.
But why are we writing about them here at Modern Mint? Well, on the first day of Salisbury Christmas Market, Rebecca visited our chalet and spoke with Chloe.
She shared the interesting work she does at the garden with us, which just sounds amazing, and then took a look through the products and ideas we share at Modern Mint. Later that night, we saw what she wrote about us (unbeknownst) on Facebook – the most glowing review you can imagine of Modern Mint….
Here is one of the photos she took:
If you want to read the review, just click here – Secret Garden Salisbury review of Modern Mint.
Thank you Rebecca, for the perfect start to our Christmas season in Salisbury! Good luck with the garden for 2017!
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 …