THE MODERN MINT BLOG
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 didnt realise it… that is what elevates a topiary cut so that the facade of your hedge, or topiary, looks so damn tactile!
This is the benefit of coming to topiary from a separate industry – in his case, hairdressing – it opens up a way of thinking and speaking about shaping plants that is a step beyond the traditional thinking about green architecture in garden history.
It is such an art and a craft topiary, and the article with Michael captures that beautifully.
Do read!
And then come back here and take a look at an idea for a Topiary Library…
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 …