Topiary, << TOH pee `ehr` ee, >> work is the art of training and cutting plants into ornamental shapes. Topiary work is usually done on evergreens, especially box and yew trees. People make topiary miniatures by training ivy over wire mesh forms packed with peat moss. Today, few people practice topiary art because it requires much time and effort.
Topiary work was a favorite hobby of the Romans, who made plants grow in geometrical forms, such as cubes, cones, and pyramids. Later topiary designs included giraffes, dogs, pigs, and peacocks. Topiary workers also imitated such useful objects as chairs, fountains, and sundials.
