THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Niwaki, the book on pruning by the brilliant Jake Hobson, is now available second hand from Modern Mint.
We have 2 copies here and it has been our bible for years (alongside the brilliant mentorship of Charlotte Molesworth) helping us clip and shear and chop most of the days of summer, for the last far too many years.
It gives great background information on where the word ‘Niwaki’ comes from, then takes you through the different techniques for pruning different trees. The subtlety needed for pine pruning and the incredibly tough pruning you might want to try on an acer, for the most vibrant of autumn colour.
Amazon are selling copies for £13.83 used.
We are selling our second hand copy here for £7.50. That way, you get the information you need at a great price, and can happily give the book away or sell it on and get your money back when you are done with it. The spreading of information, just what the internet was about, right?!!?
The Amelia Project – Episode 88: Didius Julianus
Friends of mine write a sitcom podcast called The Amelia Project (I wrote about this years ago, when they started it….!) December 2024 I had some fun playing the tiny part of Fornio in episode 88 – Didius Julianus. I have not listened to the episode yet, as I am clearly not an actor… and the thought of listening to my dulcet tones for the few minutes I’m in it just… makes me feel ill. But the recording and being in the studio was great fun, the real actors were hilarious and the script is brilliant – not just funny, …
Waltham Place Topiary Workshop 2026
With the European Boxwood and Topiary Society, I run two workshops each year at Waltham Place, one of my favourite gardens. The next topiary workshop there will be on Friday September 4th 2026. Details and how to book yet to be announced, but get in touch with them now to get on the waiting list, as last year we had double the amount of people wanting a place than we had space for. The Waltham Place website is here – topiary workshop 2026. See the teaching page for how else I can help you with the topiary in your garden …
Box Hill – Novella by Adam Mars-Jones
I picked this book up back in 2020 because of the title – Box Hill – fabulous, I thought, a book about boxwood. I’ll peruse this for its respective thoughts on the plant I clip most when I make topiary. I didn’t read the blurb on the back. Didn’t know the author (although I knew the publisher, Fitzcarraldo Editions, as I love many of the essays they have published… so trusted the author would be worth spending time with.) By page 2 I realised this novel wasn’t quite what I had expected. I started the book at 10pm, after getting …