THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Grown-up Gardening
The comic below is called Grown-ups. We share it with you because it tells us something important about being a Modern Gardener – more important by far than learning Latin plant names (though they are important) and saving water (that is necessary too!)
This comic shows us that as a gardener, a Modern Gardener, we have a responsibility to the space we call our home. We get to decide how to use it, what we put in it, the way we interact with the flora and fauna that we share it with.
As a Modern Gardener, as a grown-up, we decide how we treat the earth. This comic reminds us it is attitude and imagination that matters, that makes life exciting, that makes our homes and our gardens a wonderful place to be – far more than learning to ‘get something right and garden properly’ will ever do.
Don’t be childish. Be a grown-up.
Topiary, The Art Garden at The Henderson
The Art Garden at The Henderson in Hong-Kong has now opened to the public. I joined the project last March, to work with Gillespies Landscape Architects on the topiary that had been designed for the Art Garden, which gives a calm, green space below the extraordinary Henderson skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The garden has been designed with butterflies in mind, so lots of nectar plants, and has other art projects and installations within its footprint. The history of the site is interesting too – it was originally the first cricket ground in Hong-Kong! So still a green space….! …
ClipFest 2025
On Sunday June 22nd there will be Clipfest 2025 at Ichi-Coo Park in Surrey. It is a celebration of all things pruning and topiary, and I will be there in my capacity of teacher at the European Boxwood and Topiary Society to demonstrate tool cleaning and sharpening, and how to clip. Tickets can be found here on Eventbrite. We are hoping for great weather and to see lots of keen pruners getting their shears out and joining us at this amazing garden! And for more on topiary…
Secateur Holders
A present arrived from Norway today, from a student who visited last February to work with Chris Poole and I on learning topiary. His new hobby – a beautiful and neatly stitched secateur holder. Thrilled with this! The holder will save me keep losing my secatuers too…! Thank you Bernt! It was the same student who introduced me to the APA with whom I am doing a talk at the end of March. Tickets can be bought here for ‘Defining The Essence – Aesthetic Pruning in the Garden’. Do join the European Boxwood and Topiary Society for that!