An Eng­lish cloud hedge with a Japan­ese lad­der from Niwaki.

Now that I’ve dis­cov­ered “cloud” hedges, the green blobs that hedges have been to me in the past are no longer a nec­es­sary evil. Bel­gian designer Jacques Wirtz has brought this style to pub­lic con­scious­ness, although vari­a­tions have been around for­ever, espe­cially in Asia. This hor­ti­cul­tural manip­u­la­tion requires patience, a build­ing block of the gardener’s arse­nal. Mature plants are needed to sculpt into the val­leys and peaks of cloud hedges.The words “courage and insan­ity” have been used to describe the process in the begin­ning, but it seems to pay off in the end. Or in the immor­tal words of Phyl­lis McGin­ley: the trou­ble with gar­den­ing is that it does not remain an avo­ca­tion. It becomes an obsession.

For more infor­ma­tion go to www​.jake​hob​son​.com; for tools, www​.niwaki​.com.