In the introduction to his most recent book, "The Art of Creative Pruning", Jake Hobson says that he has found inspiration for his "organic topiary" from many sources, including the tea plantations of southern India. This set me off on a Google image search which led to finding this image of a hillside tea plantation in Kerala.
Julia Creighton, Aran's wife, is originally from Kerala and Clive Poolman's great-great Aunt, Jane Lee Kirby, owned a tea plantation there in the nineteenth century. Additionally John Creighton, Michael's father, lived in Kerala in the 1920's. We seem to have quite a few family connections to these landscapes
Julia Creighton, Aran's wife, is originally from Kerala and Clive Poolman's great-great Aunt, Jane Lee Kirby, owned a tea plantation there in the nineteenth century. Additionally John Creighton, Michael's father, lived in Kerala in the 1920's. We seem to have quite a few family connections to these landscapes
So I am now thinking how it would be wonderful to find a location in the gardens here in Mudgee to create a "little Kerala". These clipped plantations consist of a type of Camellia, Camellia sinensis, from which tea is made. A small hill of clipped and sculpted Camellia sinensis would be beautiful and maybe one day the family could produce its own tea here at The Drip. For more on Jake Hobson, including information on his inspiring books click here
send me a pic when you do it! jake.
ReplyDeleteWill do, Jake. A rather intriguing project, eh? And thank you so much for writing the books. They are a huge source of inspiration.
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