Ivy Topiaries (Animals)

Oink! Ivy Topiaries have featured here before, but none as wild as the newest creations to arrive at BloomRite® Gardens. Take Mr. Pig here, for example. We've just restocked our selection of ivy topiaries and just in time too. We're only one week away from Father's Day, and while roses may fall flat for most dads, one of our topiaries could make a clever gift for the man that's proud of his yard. Keep reading to learn more about this ancient art form, and the advantages of ivy topiaries.

The art of topiary is a very old practice. The earliest written descriptions of it date back to ancient Rome, as far as 14 AD. By the end of the 1^st century AD, topiary was a popular way of decorating the gardens of the wealthy. The name topiary is derived from the Latin word topiarius, which roughly translates to 'maker of places'. As with many of their practices the Romans brought this art with them as they built cities and villas scattered across the empire. This is why topiary was so widely practiced even in medieval times.

Since the fall of the Roman Empire, topiary has gone through periods of popularity and decline. Usually rising to prominence when prosperity and stability allow for the luxury of large well maintained gardens, and sliding back into obscurity when turbulent times make these kinds of diversions impractical. The latest resurgence was in the 18^th century, and since then topiaries have remained a fixture in landscaping.

There are as many different 'styles' of topiary as there are European nations, and covering them all would extend well beyond the scope of this article. However, the most recent type is the American innovation of the 'new' or 'portable' topiary. These are topiaries shaped using a wire frame onto which the plant is trained or grown in. Some are stuffed with sphagnum moss, whereas others are hollow or maybe filled with the trained plant.

The topiaries at BloomRite® Gardens mostly fall into this portable category. We carry some Eugenia topiaries that have no frame, but all of those made with ivy do. Our selection of available topiaries is constantly changing with the seasons, but right now we have a veritable zoo of critters to choose from: roosters, dogs, whimsical snails, small birds, elephants, and even a seal balancing a ball!

Ivy topiary care is very easy. Ivy has a well deserved reputation for being tough to kill, so in turn topiaries made with it will be very hardy. It can thrive in a range of temperatures and light conditions. Just avoid overwatering or letting the roots sit in water. To water a topiary made with moss, just soak the moss in it or pour it on much like you would on potting medium. The trickiest part of topiary care is maintaining the shape, but thanks to the nature of 'new' or 'portable' topiary you'll always have a guide thanks to the wire frame. Just trim back the plant when it over grows its shape!

Our selection and price range for ivy topiaries can vary greatly, so to find out our exact availability and cost call ahead. Chances are that if we don't have something you want we can still order it.