THE MODERN MINT BLOG
We went to see Dan Pearson and Fergus Garrett speak at the Gardens Illustrated talk last week.
Dan spoke about his gardening mentors, the Garden Bridge project for London and his current addiction for Epimediums… his work has evolved over the years – though always remained rooted in the nature of the place itself – he spoke of how his planting palette was changing and the gardens he makes looser and closer in feel to a natural space.
Doesn’t that sound fantastic?
The list he gives below is a useful starting point for anyone needing some gardening inspiration, originally shared in a Gardens Illustrated article…
My own love in the garden is for topiary, but topiary only works in all its glory when you add other plants around it. Some of these annuals, adding colourful contrast to the strength and rooted feel of a group of yew or boxwood topiaries would be a brilliant way to make a garden.
As well as reading on below, do also check out this review of Dan Pearson’s excellent book ‘Spirit’.
Annuals
Ammi majus – the flower growers best friend… I have seen it replaced in a bouquet with the slightly more robust, less elegant flower of ground elder…. yes, seriously!
Eschscholzia californica
Linum grandiflorum ‘Rubrum’
Nicotiana suaveolens
Nigella papillosa ‘African Bride’
Papaver Somniferum ‘Single Black’
Silene armeria ‘Electra’
Bulbs
Crocus tommasinianus – if squirrels are stealing your crocus bulbs, dip them in a paste of cayenne pepper and tabasco sauce first, before planting. That should put them off!
Cyclamen hederifolium f. albiflorum ‘Album’
Erythronium dens-canis
Galanthus ‘Magnet’
Gladiolus ‘Ruby’
Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’
Lilium ‘Claude Shride’
Narcissus ‘Pipit’
Nerine bowdenii
Tulipa sprengeri
Climbers
Akebia longeracemosa
Hedera pastuchovii ‘Ann Ala’
Jasminum officinale ‘Devon Cream’
Parthenocissus henryana
Rosa ‘Cooperi’
Schizophragma integrifolium
Read Part 2, Part 3 or Part 4.
Recommended Reading:
Topiary Workshop 2026 at Waltham Place
The next topiary workshop I will be teaching is now live on the website and can be booked! Just visit Waltham Place to get a ticket for the Topiary Workshop I will be teaching on Friday September 4th at Waltham Place. Myself and Chris Poole of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society (Buxus expert! Like, he knows everything there is to know about the plant! So worth booking just to tap into his knowledge….!) will be teaching here for the… fifth year in a row I think? The garden is a beautiful place to spend time clipping. We will teach …
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 …