THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Yesterday I put out the book – Modern Topiary – that I have spent the last six years writing.
Download for free a pdf of Modern Topiary here.
And what seems amazing to me, is that not only have people actually been reading it, but then responding to it. So below are a number of comments I have been sent from those who read it last night, and this morning….
“Brilliant read, exactly the right amount of info to take in and digest.” Rachel, a gardener
“Just finished reading – absolutely brilliant!” Camilla (she shared with me lots she highlighted)
“This is, and I mean this as praise, a very unusual book. It’s specific enough to be used as a “how-to” guide by an aspiring topiary artist, yet general enoughto be picked up by a non-gardener, and enjoyed for the structure, style and joy of language and ideas. It offers technical advice, while also being abstract enough that many of its lessons could be applied to other creative disciplines such as writing, painting, directing etc.” Philip, non-gardener!
“There’s a lot of useful information!” Elizabeth, a gardener
“I’m using it like a Bible.” Tim, a tree surgeon
“Love the illustrations!” Hannah, garden designer
“Fascinating and practical read.” Paul, keen home gardener
And the below, from Liam. A former teacher…
Haha I love that! He did also say…
“For me, who doesn’t have any real knowledge of gardening, it placed me in a calm state of mind. I could honestly feel how you must feel when you lose yourself in the work. The book highlights the artistic, and is brilliantly accessible.”
For free, download Modern Topiary on this page and read it for yourself. Whether a gardener, or just someone with a passing interest…
Buxus the Norfolk Terrier In Modern Topiary Book
This is Buxus, our Norfolk Terrier, who I acknowledge in the acknowledgments of the book of Modern Topiary. The book of Modern Topiary can be read, for free, here. There you go. Buxus the dog on ‘doorstep duty’ at a friend’s house in Edinburgh. For those asking what he looked like!
Modern Topiary Book
Over the last six years I have been writing a book. It is called Modern Topiary and I have finally finished it, and now made it available for people to read. This is the blurb on the back…. This is the topiary book I wish I had when I began trying to clip plants into a shape others would consider beautiful. Split into two parts – the craft and then the art of topiary – I have tried to share everything I know. It’s not a long book. I hope this gives you the foundation for good technique, alongside ideas …
Topiary Teaching For 2026
A new year, so time to share a few thoughts on what I will be looking at doing with topiary, and the focus on teaching I would like to put in place, for 2026 and beyond. Above is Nandina, made by a student of ours from the European Boxwood and Topiary Society. She took a year to work on this, taking a plant not renowned for being a good topiary plant, but seeing what its weirdness is and what values it does have, then exploring and exploding those. I am thrilled by this. Not just this look for autumn. A …