Absolutely Topiary

Topiary is a fascinating gardening activity where people can create all sorts of animals, birds and shapes in the backyard. Anthony Cabret is a master of topiary who can transform amorphous blobs of trees into artworks, like his model titanic that is sinking into the pot while the propeller at the back works as a sprinkler squirting water out over the garden

Teddy Bear topiary

Anthony began with a English Box (Buxus sempervirens) shrub in a pot and transformed it into a teddy bear. The method he used was to start from the bottom of the shrub and select the lower branches and plait them together to make two legs. He used plant clips (used for staking plants) or elastic bands to secure the branches together and continued around the middle area to form two arms for the bear. At the top one clip was used to scrunch a little bit of the shrub for his ears. Once the plant was shaped. Anthony used secateurs to trim the legs, arms and head to even the bear up.

Tip: Wet the plant with some water if you're having trouble with the secateurs. The water acts as a lubricant and helps to keep the secateurs clean and maintain a smooth cut.

The end result may look a little thin but as the plant grows the topiary teddy bear will thicken and fatten. The topiary maintains its shape and requires further trimming as it grows. Pruning also encourages growth.

Availability

Anthony Cabret's work is available Australia wide. The range of prices is from $65 to $70 for small duck in a 30cm (12") pot up to $2500 for something like the Titanic. For more information about Absolutely Topiary's availability as well as courses run by Anthony Cabret phone: (03) 5968 3701 or fax: (03) 5968 5177.

Copyright CTC Productions 2006