THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Topiary Workshops 2023
I will be teaching a number of topiary workshops in 2023.
Listed below with links to see all the details about how to book:
Northern School of Gardening, near Harrogate – April 27th 2023
Madoo Conservancy, New York – May 12th 2023
Madoo Conservancy, New York – May 13th 2023
Gunnebo House, Gothenburg – June 29th 2023
Waltham Place, near Maidenhead – September 8th 2023
WFGA, Kent – September 9th 2023
I hope to add more through the year, but please do email me if you want to be added to a reminder list when dates are announced.
And as a taster, take a look at a free talk I gave to Garden Masterclass on Modern Topiary.
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 …