THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Oak Nordeck Chair
As people keep asking what is our favourite Nordeck chair, we thought we would let you know in no uncertain terms – the oak.
Take a closer look at the Oak Nordeck Chair
The wood is strong, the colour is beautiful and it just looks right in the garden (or conservatory, or beach hut… or wherever!)
The larch is another chair we think is beautiful. Larch is an underused wood, lighter in colour than the oak, but with that ability to fit in seemingly anywhere. The larch chair would be our second choice.
The two most popular chairs and pine and birch. Lovely as they are (in very different ways!) it is the quality and dignity of a piece of oak that will be our first choice when choosing furniture for the garden.
There you have it then – the oak nordeck chair is our favourite, and it is steadily becoming more and more popular – we found it was our biggest seller this weekend at RHS Hyde Hall and the Wealden Fair.
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 …