THE MODERN MINT BLOG

May21

Flowers From The Farm – In The Media!

After many years of hard work, the wonderful group ‘Flowers From The Farm’ have been spoken about quite a lot this week in the media.

We were a ‘seedling’ on Flowers From The Farm when they first began their quest to bring fresh, seasonal flowers to more people. They have since grown and adapted and, importantly, supported so many people who want to grow flowers.

We think they do a marvellous job and are so pleased to have seen them in the Financial Times, then the Guardian.

Great reads so do go and check them out, then visit the FFTF website to see which grower is local to you.

Or, if you fancy producing your own blooms at home (and there really is nothing lovelier!) check out our ideas, based on first hand experience of growing flowers for the vase.

Jan28

Monty Don British Gardens Episode 4

I hadn’t seen the new Monty Don series ‘Monty Don’s British Gardens’ but I was sent a message one evening to say stick it on – episode 4 especially! On the episode were three gardens I make and clip the topiary in… the photo above is my quizzical boxwood emu… which looks ridiculous out of context of the wider topiary garden it sits in… but hey! Showcases what you can do with boxwood, when given enough time to let it grow! But also on the episode were Waltham Place, one of my favourite gardens and a place I teach topiary …

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Nov01

Topiary Art In Hong Kong, The Henderson

Here are a couple of photos of the topiary work I have been doing in Hong Kong for the Art Garden at the bottom of the brand new skyscraper, The Henderson. The building has been designed by Zaha Hadid Architects and this November 2024 the garden at the base of the structure will be planted up, with lots of topiary originally designed by Gillespies Landscape Architects, grown by Tarzan Nursery in China, and then clipped and refined into shape by…. me. Will update with photos from The Henderson Art Garden when all is completed and the garden is opened, but …

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Apr16

EBTS Boxwood Growers Forum

Through the European Boxwood and Topiary Society I worked with Chris Poole and Sue Mesher, members of the EBTS board, and we set up a Boxwood Growers Forum. This was to discuss how to make sure this wonderful topiary plant stays in the public conscioussness – we know many growers, suppliers and distributors have stopped selling it as the cost of replacing boxwood that has blight, or is nibbled by the boxwood caterpillar, makes it unviable to offer to clients and gardeners. But Boxwood is a phoenix plant, and there are ways to deal with the problems associated with Buxus. …

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