You don-Yt need a green thumb-Xor even a garden-Xto make whimsical living sculptures and elegant decorative designs out of plants. Using today-Ys topiary techniques, anyone can master projects ranging from a conversation piece to a masterpiece, in sizes to fit living rooms, terraces, small backyards, or rolling estates. Indoor Projects ,h Fashion a bird from fragrant flowering jasmine for your windowsill ,h Sculpt a snowy swan out of Glacier ivy ,h Offer your hostess a moss-covered teddy bear with a basket of potpourri ,h Festoon potted boxwood trees with tiny mandarin oranges to create a mini Versailles-Xin your living room ,h Grow a miniature rosemary tree in the kitchen Outdoor Projects ,h Savor the fragrance and flavor of an herbal knot garden ,h Interlace overhanging branches of yew, hemlock, or cypress to form a tree tunnel. ,h Espalier dwarf fruit trees against a wall to make a backyard orchard ,h Crown shrubs with clipped shapes of peacocks, rabbits, and bears ,h Train ivy over a wire mesh screen to create a shady cornerPresenting all the methods of formal plant shaping and introducing simple, fun, and fanciful techniques for creating informal indoor topiaries, Totally Topiary is clear, comprehensive, and written with an irrepressible passion for the art of making plants into living sculpture. From hedge sculpture and espalier to indoor creations and an entire chapter on ivy, all major topiary styles both new and old are covered. Over 100 specific projects in the eight different styles are offered for a variety of skills and purposes, accompanied by handsome line drawings that serve as step-by-step models and elegant inspiration. Each chapter is complete unto itself, recommending plants (Japanese yew is the hardiest for outdoor sculpture, but azalea can be coaxed into a startling pink flamingo), sharing design hints (espaliered fruit trees provide privacy from the neighbors with practical elegance), noting ideal times to plant. They also offer specifics on tools and hardware need, plus pruning and maintenance tips. A wealth of fascinating stories and charming anecdotes places each style in historical context, and helpful features list plant sources nationwide, along with topiary showcases worth visiting. 97,000 copies in print.Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club 97,000 copies in printThe first new guide to topiary in over 80 years, this guide presents all the classic methods of formal plant shaping and includes 100 plans for indoor and outdoor plant creations anyone can make for themselves. Illustrated.
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