THE MODERN MINT BLOG
First of all, a long article at Country Life magazine about the Art of Topiary… with a mention for my mentor Charlotte Molesworth, and her topiary garden in Kent.
Read here ‘The Ancient Art Of Topiary’
And in Country Living that chap King Charles (King!) starts work on a climate friendly topiary garden at Sandringham. Love the idea of ripping up a lawn for flowers and shrubs – will be intrigued to see how climate friendly the project works out to be, as they expect to finish it in May, just 4 months down the line.
Most topiaries I make are at their best… well, at leat 4 years after I start them. So you can’t complete a topiary garden in 4 months unless you bring in fully grown pieces, which have a carbon cost.
Have they lacked the courage to plant what basically look like sticks, then watch them grow over the years? And shape as appropriate? I wouldn’t blame them for being too timid to do this…
But I would love to see a topiary garden started from scratch, in order to earn a little more right to call itself cliamate friendly. I look forward to seeing and learning more though… as I may be judging too fast – ha!
Read here about the ‘climate friendly’ Topiary Garden of the King
Finally, Topiarius France has a front cover showing my work on the largest Topiary Garden in the UK. I don’t speak French so haven’t read it, but apparently they attibute the clipping to someone else. Ho-hum.
Some photos can be seen here, and a copy bought if desired.
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!