Topiary is as old as gardening itself. From the gardens of ancient Egypt to the arts and crafts creations of Edwardian England and the private and public gardens of today, living green sculpture has been clipped into shape. With its bold silhouettes, topiary is an icon that defines the hand of man in creating gardens, expressing the gardener's ideas and firing the observer's imagination. Topics covered include · Assessing the site · Design and structural form: the outdoor space and the topiary piece · Preparation and planting; regular and long-term maintenance · Clipping techniques and step-by-step methods of creating topiary pieces · Hedge topiary, simple shapes; complex and figurative shapes · Rejuvenation, propagation, and solving problems Informative photographs offer ideas and starting points for creating your personal topiary work, while guidelines to creating specific shapes and designs are set out in simple diagrams that illustrate the stages of transformation from unruly shrub to stylised art form. AUTHOR: Chris Crowder is head gardener at Levens Hall in Cumbria, where he as worked since the mid-1980s. His special interest is in providing this unique 300-year-old topiary garden with a contemporary planting to complement the historic topiary specimens. He is also the author of a book on Levens and its garden. Michaeljon Ashworth is a fine art and sculpture historian who main interest and occupation lie in garden history, writing, lecturing and leading garden tours in the UK and Italy.

160 colour photos.