Shear Whimsy: Topiary adds character to landscapes

Tag : garden shear

Like stepping into a fairy tale -- the trees, bushes and even thevines seem come to life in Cal Klaver's topiary gardens in Jenison.
Sporting poodle cuts, neatly trimmed greenery and sculpturalshapes, from square-cut hedges to cones, spirals and pyramids, aswell as many whimsical, free-form designs, the topiary dominateshis yard's landscape as a living form of art.

"Every tree or bush has its own visual character, just likepeople," Klaver said, adding that the age-old art of topiary, whichbegan in Roman times, can add a fanciful touch to the garden. Think of them as plants with personality that need regular haircutsto keep their shape.
Since 1975, Klaver has been sculpting, trimming and training hisgarden creations, starting with his first hedge of six meticulouslysheared snowdrift crabapple trees near his garage. "It took almost 10 years to get it that shape," he said, addingmost outdoor topiary takes about five years to train, trim andsculpt into the desired shape.

For that type of topiary, patience -- as well as seeing what otherscan't imagine -- is the key. "Whenever I plant something, I think about how it will look when itmatures," Klaver said.
Beyond traditional
Although shaped boxwoods, yew and cedar are typical of traditionaltopiary, Klaver has expanded into vines, weeping larch, maples andlilac bushes.