Colburn's wife is a sculptress trained in metals and fine art who brings her skills and experience to the topiary business. All you need is to be told how-to, and that's what Barbara Gallup and Deborah Reich made sure the average person with no experience knows. Complete instruction in how to make topiaries is found in the how-to book. It's one of the best topiary training books for beginners. Reich is a New York-based horticulturist and landscape designer.
Most people think of topiaries as hedges clipped in the shape of a bear or camel.
However, the business is about shaping and training plants to grow toward the sun or artificial light. Plants will grow around anything since they are growing toward the light. You can create topiaries with herbs. Clip Old Faithful fountains with plants. Make topiaries made of geraniums, roses, ivy, and Chia seeds.