Topiary with a story
A walk with Frida in her garden is as browsing in a diary full of anecdotes, while several shrubs do have their own amazing and amusing story.
The "cream puff" is a rather big, well-trimmed ornamental Box ball.
Moreover, there is also Blanche, Astrid, the bell ringers and Catho.
All of these Box and Yew plants, trees ans shrubs were saved by Frida, some of them in the most odd situations. Sometimes the shrubs or trees were condamned because "the place was to be renovated or a car port to be build". When this happens, Frida starts negotiating with the owners and usually succeeds in saving those plants from a certain dead.
All saved plants are given a name reminiscing of the names or activities of the former owners.
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How did it all start?
It all started in 1991 with the rescue of a bear, a horde and a squirel, which were no longer tolerated on a camping site at Bredene (Belgian coast).
The lady who created and took care of these topiary (Yew) during more than 12 years was obliged to remove them from the camping.
So, she was looking for "adoptive parents" for her pets, came to visit the garden in Kapellen and after inspection, declared the adoption acceptable. |
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Right away, it was clear that the transplantation of the plants, each of them 700 kilos in weight, had to be done with great care at the exact location
in the garden.
Together with an Art – student, Frida went to Bredene in order to take detailed measurements of each plant.
Back home, three real scale models were made and during several weeks they were moved around in the garden in order to find an ideal spot. |
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From Bredene to Kapellen
After six months of preparation, the yews were carefully dug out. The delicate roots were packed in sackcloth and the the plants were ready for transportation.
It is always a great and emotional moment when the delicate transport starts moving on his way to Kapellen.
At the arrival in Kapellen, where the plant holes already had been prepared, the newcommers are welcomed by the models.
Today ...
The view from the terrace is one of a beautiful green island, with the charming animal sculptures, successfully integrated into a variety of Box balls, trimmed shrubs (Ilex crenata) and Yews.
Is is a lovely picture with subtle shades and green nuances, a pleasant complexity with somtimes a strange claire-obscur.
And the pretty squirrel, the teddy bear and the little horse are always fairly happy and content in this garden. |
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