A topiary fantasy

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Topiary is an art with an ancient heritage. Your imagination is the only limit to what can be created. The result can be flamboyant with fanciful creatures or more simple geometric forms.
Trimming plants into ornamental shapes and patterns dates back to the decadent days of Ancient Rome. Clipped box, bay and myrtle were frequently used in the gardens of the wealthy, with special gardeners being employed whose sole task was to create and maintain the topiaries. The word topiary derives from the Latin ‘opus topiarium’ which means ornamental gardening.
The craft was very fashionable on grand estates throughout Europe from the 16th to the 18th century, exemplified by gardens such as Versailles. English gardens featured topiary associated with Renaissance designs. Queen Elizabeth I had an array of life-size figures, animals and flowers made from evergreens, including rosemary, in the Privy Garden at Hampton Court. Gradually the art of topiary filtered down the social ranks.

Exceptions to the rule
Today the tradition continues in various forms – from a pair of spiral buxus in matching containers adorning a doorway to massed green sculpture in large formal gardens. While in general I would advocate a little restraint when it comes to topiary in the home garden and to treat the pieces as you would ornaments, there are always exceptions to every preconception.
On entering the creative world of Charlotte Molesworth you are immediately drawn into a magical experience. You open a weathered gate onto a narrow path edged by lollipop topiaries protruding from tall box hedges.
Topiary and innate country charm are combined with quirky evergreen shapes and casual groups of pots or old watering cans by the open front door. Glimpses inside of billowing flowers and foliage in eclectic containers, against walls adorned with paintings complete the initial impression.
Charlotte and Donald Molesworth have created a very personal garden where topiary has been incorporated into the landscape. It comes as no surprise to learn that Charlotte embraces many art forms – painter, printmaker, flower arranger, garden designer and topiarist. Uncontrived arrangements of ancient farming implements mingle with a wide variety of effervescent shrubs and flowers.

Your imagination is the only limit to what can be created in topiary

Inventiveness, with a touch of wackiness and an expertise in planting, has led to the evolution of the garden since Charlotte and Donald moved into the almost derelict house in 1983. Slowly and on a very tight budget, they transformed what was once the gardener’s cottage and kitchen garden for the neighbouring manor house into a series of resplendent garden areas.
“Although we inherited well-worked, good soil, it was weed infested with mounds of broken glass from old cold frames. Friends and family gave us plants as seeds or cuttings and we planted them in rows in readiness to begin the garden,” Charlotte explains.
Very gradually decisions were made as the garden was cleared and prepared. A vegetable garden was started, a chicken run built, a pond built as a wedding gift by a friend and outdoor eating areas created by the house.

A big impression
Developing topiary was always in the plan, and once buxus cuttings and yew seedlings were large enough to handle the hedge planting began. “Topiary always appeared in my mother’s and aunts’ gardens in the form of box and yew hedges, punctuated by clipped yew forms and, as a child, I was taken on visits to many gardens. Topiary made a big impression on me,” remembers Charlotte.
“I love working with the individual specimen, observing its structure and inherent characteristics, training pliable young branches, boldly removing excess material, standing back, constantly looking at it from all around and then waiting and watching the form mature over the years,” she enthuses.
Now, 23 years on, the evergreen topiary adds structure to the garden along with many mature trees. Topiary draws the eye everywhere, many emerging atop wavy hedges. There are birds, pyramids, wedding cakes, spirals, spheres, cones and other organic or geometric shapes.
The whole effect works charmingly, as it doesn’t appear contrived but rather as part of some ethereal world. Against the greens is a plethora of loose plantings. “Planting schemes are fairly random. Textures and form prevail over colour generally, with strong colours avoided – except of course for the rich, saturated colours of old roses, peonies, etc. Some coloured foliage is also used and a lot of foliage plants are favoured,” comments Charlotte.
As the garden evolved, the topiary developed beyond a home hobby. Propagating more plants than they needed led to incorporating a small nursery, where they sell mature and some topiarised specimens of box.
Charlotte also takes on commissions, offers garden consultations, gives talks on topiary and is an active member of The European Boxwood and Topiary Society. Lady Fitzwalter commissioned Charlotte to design her Millennium garden at Goodnestone Park, a box parterre, and last summer Charlotte started creating a porcupine and bear at Penshurst Place as topiary specimens of their heraldic shield.

Charlotte’s topiary tips

• Box, yew and holly are the best plants to use
• Keep it cut tightly
• Clipping in August/September avoids disturbing nesting birds
• Use string, not wire to tie in
• Use good quality, very sharp shears
• Don’t let neighbouring plants sprawl into the topiary, as they will shade it out and spoil the shape

Topiary options

• Evergreen topiary adds interest all year round
• Frost or snow only enhance them, but too much snow can damage them
• Wonderful foils against colourful plantings
• Small leafed shrubs are best, to keep shape defined
• Plant in garden beds, as part of hedge or in containers
• Develop from cuttings or mature plants
• Can take up to eight years to fill out and train
• You can buy ready-formed topiary from nurseries
• Wire frames with climbers create ‘false-topiary’

Words and pictures by Leigh Clapp