Topiaries & One More!

I was looking at Bunny Williams's portfolio earlier today and this photo inspired me to investigate creating topiaries.   Look closely!  There are a couple of really handsome ones in the background. 

Whether used inside or prepared now for use on a patio or porch later, this might be a good time to while away the winter hours coddling some live greenery!

 

These are English ivy topiaries and a clipped lemon cypress.  The cyprus is trimmed into the desired shape.  The ivy ones are trained onto or around wire forms.  Although ivy can withstand cold temperatures it would be best to start these inside and move them outside as spring approaches.  Either of these would be a nice complement to an interior as well. 

 

 

Handsome topiaries like those above are made from ivy trained around a wire form.    Grapevine works too.  Elegant accents for a porch or patio.  Water, cajole and trim regularly. 

 

How about an arch?  This sweet little plant is angel vine and I found directions for creating this one.

 

Plant a 4-inch pot of angel vine in a premoistened soilless potting mix, such as Miracle-Gro Potting Mix. Insert your topiary frame on top of the plant. Wrap the plant around the frame to train it, snipping away the excess.

 

The interesting use of  plant life (below) showed up while I was looking at multi-million dollar properties for sale around the country.  That will be another post. 

 

Espalier is another skill in manipulating plant life into a particular shape.  I was impressed with this one. 

Got a brick wall?  There you go!!  It takes years but the results are worth the effort.  I did it with pyracantha some years ago on the house we lived in for many years.  It was a thorny but fun project.