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:
Why I Wrote The Book Modern Topiary
I have written this book, Modern Topiary, because I wanted a collation of useful information that would give people access to everything they need to know in order to start making topiary. Topiary is an amazing (and niche) line of work to follow – amazing because it offers up opportunities to travel all over the world, making gardens, meeting people… but also, the work is intensely physical, hands-on, yet requires creative thinking in order to solve the puzzle of how to make the shapes you want. This mixture of the craft and the art is what I love the most …
Buxus the Norfolk Terrier In Modern Topiary Book
This is Buxus, our Norfolk Terrier, who I acknowledge in the acknowledgments of the book of Modern Topiary. The book of Modern Topiary can be read, for free, here. There you go. Buxus the dog on ‘doorstep duty’ at a friend’s house in Edinburgh. For those asking what he looked like!
What People Think Of Modern Topiary, The Book
Yesterday I put out the book – Modern Topiary – that I have spent the last six years writing. Download for free a pdf of Modern Topiary here. And what seems amazing to me, is that not only have people actually been reading it, but then responding to it. So below are a number of comments I have been sent from those who read it last night, and this morning…. “Brilliant read, exactly the right amount of info to take in and digest.” Rachel, a gardener “I love your book, the advice is so straightforward and your writing is so …