Topiary
The Latin word for a landscape gardener is topiarus from which the word topiary is derived. Topiary is often defined as 'the art of shaping trees and shrubs into ornamental forms by clipping and training.' The origins of the word encourage the view that it is much more than that and yet topiary and plant sculpture, whilst featuring in the grandest gardens of the past, is available for the smaller gardens of today
From ancient writings it has been established that topiary has been practised for
at least 2,000 years. In Roman Britain clipped box was used in the villas of the rich,
often spelling the name of the master or topiarist or as edging for complex patterns,
defining the various sections of the garden. During the Middle Ages, after the Romans
had left, topiary seems to have been confined mainly to monasteries and plants were
often trained and clipped into simple shapes on withy frames. The first real topiary
revival took place in early Renaissance Italy but, in Britain, it wasn't until Tudor
times under Henry VIII that interest was developed again. During the reign of Queen
Elizabeth I and until the reign of Queen Anne in the 18th century, it became really
popular. From simple topiary shapes - spheres and cones for example - to complex human
figures, animals, porticoes, temples, vases, urns; almost any plant was subject to
experiment but particularly box, rosemary and juniper. Hampton Court Palace was noted
for such work at this time. Knot gardens and parterres featuring thrift, hyssop,
lavender, germander and thyme, together with mazes, were fashionable in the gardens of
large country houses and many examples still exist today such as Hever Castle in Kent.
It wasn't until the 18th century that many other evergreens such as holly, yew, bay,
laurel and phillyrea were used to a greater extent. However, by the second half of the
same century, topiary was regarded as old-fashioned or in bad taste and the art
stagnated for nearly 100 years. The Victorians, as in so many things, became
enthusiasts and with improved communications, the exchange of ideas and the expansion
of trade, new techniques and plants were imported.
The social changes brought about following two world wars, such as the break-up of large estates, did not encourage further development of topiary in the first half of the 20th century. However, with more people owning their own homes, a better knowledge of the craft, a wider choice of plants, including many deciduous types and tools which make for ease of maintenance, topiary and plant scuplture is again enhancing increasing numbers of gardens.