THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Father’s Day Gifts 2014
In several categories – see which one you think he would like the most and get it delivered by the weekend!
All are ‘dad gift cliches’ until the end… then we give you a few (we hope) quirky bits to buy…
1) BBQ
2) Bathroom shizzle (you know, grooming and what not…)
3) Tools and Practical Bits
4) Software and gadgets
(Good deal on this one at time of posting!)
5) Quirky (we hope… if you can think of something better, please send us an email and we’ll stick it up here!)
(Okay, that one isn’t for Dad… unless he’s had a drink and thinks he can fit in it…? It’s a Sunday afternoon BBQ accident just waiting to happen…)
And that’s it for now – presents and gifts for Father’s Day 2014! For the very best hedge cutting tools though, have a look at this post…
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 …