THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Update 2022 – Right now I am only booking talks via Zoom for 2022/2023.
I do lots of garden talks.
Around 50 per year, travelling across the country sharing my knowledge and thoughts on how to garden in our changing climate, to groups who want to know something new.
It is exceptionally enjoyable and, I think, experience has made me a much better speaker. So much so that people seem to find it fun too….
“Thank you so much for your great talk last night. Not only was it interesting and something I don’t think any of us have thought about before, but it was very entertaining. Our treasurer has already emailed me today to say it was a brilliant talk and can we have you back again.”
Braintree Organic Gardening Group
“Thank you for a lovely evening for our members. It was really entertaining to see examples of your tools and your work and that of others as you chatted comfortably about your life and passion for gardening.
I am sure we all took away ideas to help us in our growing and designing of our gardens. With all good wishes for the development of Modern Mint and I will be in touch for a future booking.”St Edmundsbury Gardeners’ Society
The talks I give and other information can be seen here – Garden Club Speaker.
But I also wanted to share with you a few other names of garden club speakers in Essex, that you may wish to make a note of.
They are:
Ian Tinton – sales@wvgm.co.uk
Ian talks about wool compost and the benefits of growing your plants, vegetables and filling your pots with this amazing compost. It is peat-free, sustainable, holds water for a long time and the nitrogen in the wool helps feed your plants. He is a lovely chap too and it is well worth making sure you book him and discover a little more about wool compost.
Zsuzsa Serer – spicesoticplants@hotmail.com
I met Zsuzsa earlier this year and she too is very lovely. She talks on herbs, how to propagate them, will likely bring plants to demonstrate with and can also tell you about traditional Hungarian garden practises. Do get in touch with her if you are looking for a speaker in Essex!
Barbara Segall – The Garden Post
Barbara is also a herb expert. She was the most encouraging voice I could ever encounter when I first decided I might give garden club speaking a try. So so kind! And a brilliant writer too. Her book Gardens By The Sea is one of my favourites.
We hope you have an easy time filling your speaker programmes over the next year. But if you are struggling to fill a gap, then please do contact myself or one these other Essex garden club speakers – we will do our best to give you an interesting, informative talk!
See Darren’s talks now.
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 …