THE MODERN MINT BLOG

Mar14

Topiary Skills Workshop Waltham Place

I will be teaching a Topiary Skills Workshop at Waltham Place in September 2023!

For more information and to book your spot on the course do visit the Waltham Place website.

waltham place talk

In this 3 hour course you will learn everything you need to know about pruning and making topiary – as well as getting some practise in as well!

No experience necessary, just a positive attitude and a pair of shears needed… I can help you sharpen and clean everything up before we begin, so don’t panic if your tools are a little rough!

During the session you will:

  • Learn about the basic tools you need for topiary, how to look after them and what to do with pests on your boxwood.
  • Take a tour of the garden to see which plants can be used and what it is possible to do with them
  • Learn the right technique for clipping
  • Get clipping – practise makes perfect!

‍Topiary should be fun and practical so come prepared to do some pruning – it is, after all, the best way to learn.

And tell your friends about the course. The garden is magnificent, so what could be better than a wander around with friends, then doing something creative? (Having a glass of wine and wandering around with friends? Ok, that is better.. but not going to happen when using sharp tools… for this course, anyway…)

Book a place now on the Topiary Skills course at Waltham Place.

waltham place
Jan08

Topiary Workshop 2026 at Waltham Place

The next topiary workshop I will be teaching is now live on the website and can be booked! Just visit Waltham Place to get a ticket for the Topiary Workshop I will be teaching on Friday September 4th at Waltham Place. Myself and Chris Poole of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society (Buxus expert! Like, he knows everything there is to know about the plant! So worth booking just to tap into his knowledge….!) will be teaching here for the… fifth year in a row I think? The garden is a beautiful place to spend time clipping. We will teach …

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Nov18

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 …

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Nov18

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 …

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