SERIES 33 | Episode 28
Sophie is on Peramangk Country, in the Adelaide Hills, to meet an expert in transforming humble shrubs into living art pieces.
Craig Sullivan is a specialist in topiary and cloud pruning, whose work provides a stunning contrast to the rolling hills and wild bushland of this part of South Australia.
Craig explains his practice, 'topiary is about shaping plants. It can be a formal attribute to a garden, or simply something fun; but for me it is about creativity.' He takes Sophie on a tour of the garden of one of his clients, where you can see his imprint on hedges all around, and how they transform to shape the space over time. As they mature, the simple shapes can grow into each other, creating unified forms. This is the 'rolling ball' form of topiary, which is low to the ground and contrasts the more complex forms of cloud pruned plants.
Cloud pruning is 'exposing the structure, stripping back the branches, exposing twists and bends, creating pads at the end (of branches). You are letting air and light into the plant and it looks like they are striking a pose.' This method is known as 'niwaki' in Japan, where the technique originated.
While he has turned westringia into topiary, and cloud pruned feijoa trees, the majority of his work is shown on buxus and conifers. Craig explains, 'they are very hardy, can take a good deal of different conditions, but kangaroos and sheep don't eat them, which is the main reason I have so many of those plants here.' He explains that you need to consider the type of topiary you are aiming for when selecting the plant that you work with.
Featured Plants | |
|---|---|
FEIJOA | Feijoa sellowiana |
JAPANESE BOX | Buxus microphylla var. microphylla syn. B. japonica |
Filmed on Peramangk Country | Adelaide Hills, SA