THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Rosybee, the brilliant plant nursery in Oxford who focus on plants for bees, have published the results of their studies. After 5 years of testing plants and counting honeybees you can see the top performers here…
We interviews Rosi, the owner of Rosybee nursery years back when she started. Do take a read as it offers great advice on the thought that went towards making life as easy as possible for a start-up nursery. Especially one with such an important mission!
As you can see, the top plants for the honeybee are Helenium autumnale, a beautiful daisy and pretty easy to grow and Calamint. Not one you will often see I don’t think, but well worth a spot in the garden for all that value it provides honeybees. It did pretty well in attracting bumblebees too!
Happy planting for the bees everyone. And don’t forget, you can explore our blog further by clicking through the posts or just by searching for what you might like to know in the bar at the top right of this page.
We cover a range of topics including topiary, tools and how to reduce your carbon footprint. The simplest way to do that is by changing to a renewable energy supplier. We love Bulb.
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!