THE MODERN MINT BLOG
The Cows Are Coming!
Who would have thoughts cows can skip? Here is a video of the cows at Riverford Farm being let out of the barn… beautiful to see their excitement as they head out into the fields!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qlOuxlxVr8
While on the subject of cows and milk… last weekend the staff at Modern Mint learnt to make halloumi. It is easy and quick to do, and tastes delicious… we’re drooling thinking about it now!
For those self-sufficiency hunters out there, the ‘Gentle Art of Cheesemaking’ is another skill to add to your repertoire. For more information and a fun lesson to teach you the basics, courses can be booked with Louise Talbot at Cutting the Curd.
If you want to know what great cheese tastes like, visit Pong! An online cheese retailer…
Or get these books to try it out yourself!
Topiary, The Art Garden at The Henderson
The Art Garden at The Henderson in Hong-Kong has now opened to the public. I joined the project last March, to work with Gillespies Landscape Architects on the topiary that had been designed for the Art Garden, which gives a calm, green space below the extraordinary Henderson skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The garden has been designed with butterflies in mind, so lots of nectar plants, and has other art projects and installations within its footprint. The history of the site is interesting too – it was originally the first cricket ground in Hong-Kong! So still a green space….! …
ClipFest 2025
On Sunday June 22nd there will be Clipfest 2025 at Ichi-Coo Park in Surrey. It is a celebration of all things pruning and topiary, and I will be there in my capacity of teacher at the European Boxwood and Topiary Society to demonstrate tool cleaning and sharpening, and how to clip. Tickets can be found here on Eventbrite. We are hoping for great weather and to see lots of keen pruners getting their shears out and joining us at this amazing garden! And for more on topiary…
Secateur Holders
A present arrived from Norway today, from a student who visited last February to work with Chris Poole and I on learning topiary. His new hobby – a beautiful and neatly stitched secateur holder. Thrilled with this! The holder will save me keep losing my secatuers too…! Thank you Bernt! It was the same student who introduced me to the APA with whom I am doing a talk at the end of March. Tickets can be bought here for ‘Defining The Essence – Aesthetic Pruning in the Garden’. Do join the European Boxwood and Topiary Society for that!