The New Topiary: Imaginative Techniques from Longwood Gardens

Rating:
Summary: Unique, detailed, extrordinary
Review: This book is the best topiary book I have seen. It details Pennsylvania's Longwood Gardens and gives all the trade secrets to their wonderful yearly displays.

The book is lavishly illustrated with color photographs, and detailed black and white sketches. This is truly topiary at its greatest. Included are the yearly carousels (lions, horses and ostriches), a brontosaurus, a dragon, a giant Japanese pagoda, elephants, swans, roosters, and the Wizzard of Oz, to name only a few.

Topiary balls, topiary bells, topiary baskets - all here in every imaginable form! Pruned or Free-Form Topiaries, Wire framed, stuffed - all here! Some of the stuffed topiaries are huge, and this book doesn't skimp on the details on how to create such large moveable topiaries.

The detailed directions in this book are amazing. I want so much to tell you the details and all the great hints - but then you wouldn't buy the book! (and I truly believe this should be in every topiary collection!)

There are standards (the ones that look like lollipop plants) for fuchias, coleus, chrysanthemum, poinsetta, and ivy, hydrangea. The book includes everything - weather, grafting, and some great shortcuts.

There is a section on pests, moss topiary, columns, woven topiaries, grass scupture, watering systems, indoor vs outdoor topiary, how to select frames, how to make them ( even the spot welding for 14-guage wire on the big ones!)

There is a wonderful plant section that details growth rates, growth habits, compatibility, flowering habit and timing and leaf shape for both ivies and plants ( sorry but I didn't feel like counting how many)

And oh, I forgot the frog!

This is just an inspiring book. There is no better word! The examples are among the finest I have seen. The detail is extrordinary and the instruction is superb.

What I found particularly helpful are the techniques for making your topiary moveable. (I move a lot.) Another particular favorite were the tiny topiaries that are sized for a warm and humid bathroom (they're really little).

If you buy one book on topiaries, this is the one I would recommend. It offers both the inspiration and the step by step instruction you need to go with it.