THE MODERN MINT BLOG
South East Essex Organic Gardeners – a fantastic resource for those who have a garden in Essex and want to work it without the use of chemicals.
They play an important role in promoting organic gardening – which includes (for those of you who need a few tips!) composting organic waste, protecting wildlife, reducing pollution and encouraging species diversity.
(This is one of the most popular books on our Amazon book store – a book on organic principles no less! It is a growing movement that more and more people want to be a part of – so click on the image above to get involved to!)
Modern Mint director Darren Lerigo is a member and gets huge enjoyment from the events they run every two months – on July 21st at 8pm, Founder Director of River of Flowers Kathryn Lwin will be talking about growing wildflowers – do come along to 47 Fairfax Drive, SS0 9AG!
The September talk (at the same venue) will be on Natural Beekeeping, presented by a man we met earlier this year, who runs an exceptionally beautiful farm…
We hope to encourage more Essex gardens to adopt organic principles, so if you are interested and would like to know more about organic growing – do use South East Essex Organic Gardeners, or get in touch with us!
And if you want to do a little of your own research, we suggest starting with these books…
(One of the biggest proponents of organic gardening, His Royal Highness…)
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 …