Topiary that flows

On a recent visit to the Dolomites in Italy, I passed a garden that not only caught my eye but caused me to abandon my car on the side of the road to take a closer look. The owner had the most incredible display of topiary I had ever seen. The buxus had been cleverly crafted into a continuous flow of flawless curves. Although it would be intrusive to step into somebody’s front garden unannounced, especially not knowing their language, I carefully constructed some introductory lines with the help of Google Translate. I explained that I was a gardener and was admiring his topiary from the roadside. The house, although grand, was very modest, much like its owner Fabia, whom I would soon be picking the brain of about his incredible artistry.

Amidst our language barrier, we managed to communicate, mainly through our shared love for horticulture. He explained that he was not a professional and enjoyed experimenting with his plants. He had grown his buxus from seed in 2006, and 18 years on, his garden was a masterpiece. He detailed how he carefully carved the shapes into the buxus using long-handled shears, it was impressive to see how he achieved such intricate edges and depth . He explained that tools were limited in the mountains. From my own experience, I pondered how much a Niwaki Pro Topiary Clipper could transform his work.

He shared how he would first conceptualize an idea in his mind, but when it came to pruning the shape into the topiary, he would follow the natural edges and curves that the plant presented. I was blown away by his craftsmanship and wanted Fabia to know that his 18 years of hard work and dedication were truly worth it; he was humbled by my words.

It was wonderful to see his buxus thriving in Italy. We discussed Box Blight and Box Tree Caterpillar causing havoc back home in the UK. In that moment, he took me to see one corner of his display that had been affected. He had managed to catch it early and prevent further damage. There were signs of fresh, new lush growth visible, and I hoped and prayed that the area would revive for Fabia’s sake.

This was encounter I needed to share with you all. It would be criminal not to share such a masterpiece.