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Trimming the Hedge--A Quiz About Topiary

Here's a short quiz about the art of training trees and vines into decorative shapes. So grab your pruning shears and let's get clipping!

A multiple-choice quiz by lacybear. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
lacybear

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
248,426

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
1403

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is topiary? Hint

The art of shaping and training plants to create a living sculpture in the garden.

All of these

One of the oldest means of creating decorative elements in the garden.

A softer alternative to statuary and architecture in the garden.

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Question 2 of 10

2. Portable topiary is created by training plants to cover the outside of a metal frame which is usually shaped like an animal, a standard, or a geometric form. What should you stuff the inside of the frame with? Hint

sawdust

garden soil

sphagnum moss and sterile soilless growing mix

pea gravel

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is the most reliable plant to use on a portable topiary? Hint

mistletoe

fern

ivy

cactus

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Question 4 of 10

4. Standards, Poodles, and Spirals are classic topiary forms. How long can a potted specimen take to fully develop its form? Hint

2 days

2 months

2 weeks

2 years

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Question 5 of 10

5. Knot gardens, shaped into elaborate ornamental patterns, evolved from medieval kitchen gardens where cooking herbs and medicinal herbs were kept in separate beds. Where did the first knot garden design appear in 1499? Hint

Venice

Virginia

Vancouver

Vulcan

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Question 6 of 10

6. English yew (Taxus baccata) has been used for centuries on the British Isles for shaping hedges and animal/geometric forms, but it is not a dependable plant in some parts of the world. Which of the following plants are good substitutes for the yew? Hint

cypress

columnar junipers

privets

all of these

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Question 7 of 10

7. A puzzle hedge is a network of paths framed by tall sculpted bushes or trees to make a life-size game. What is it also known as? Hint

a hedgerow

a knot

a maze

a meander

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Question 8 of 10

8. In what Stephen King novel did the topiary outside a snowbound hotel come alive? Hint

The Shining

Salem's Lot

The Stand

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is a topiary standard with multiple balls of branches trained along the stem also known as? Hint

a pug

a shihtzu

a chihuahua

a poodle

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is a type of topiary where a tree is trained in a flat, open pattern on a lattice or trellis? (often used on fruit trees when space is limited). Hint

espalier

espresso

espadrille

ester

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is topiary?

Answer: All of these

This art goes back to the imaginative creations in ancient Egyptian and Roman gardens and blossomed during the Renaissance where clipped alleys and avenues were an important part of the cultural scene. Today, with easy access to frames and materials, anyone can create topiary.

Answer: sphagnum moss and sterile soilless growing mix

The sphagnum moss and sterile soilless growing mix allow the plant roots to take hold, as well as retaining moisture and providing some nutrients for the plants. Garden soil is too heavy and full of damaging insects and pathogens to be used in a framed topiary.

3. What is the most reliable plant to use on a portable topiary?

Answer: ivy

Once the ivy is rooted, it covers the frame rapidly. Solid green varieties of ivy are best to use since they can grow well in shadier areas indoors and out. Variegated varieties need more light but also tend to scorch in full sun.

4. Standards, Poodles, and Spirals are classic topiary forms. How long can a potted specimen take to fully develop its form?

Answer: 2 years

The plant usually needs to go through 2 growing seasons to fill out fully. Shaping can be done continually--but not drastically--all during this time.

Answer: Venice

Vancouver and Virginia were not established in 1499. Not sure about Vulcan.

Answer: all of these

Other evergreens that make good topiaries include varieties of spruce, eugenia, podocarpus, euonymus, arborvitae, and boxwood.

7. A puzzle hedge is a network of paths framed by tall sculpted bushes or trees to make a life-size game. What is it also known as?

Answer: a maze

Mazes became especially popular in Europe in the 1500's and often had a topiary sculpture in the center. Many mazes had geometric or animal topiary sculpted on the tops. Yew was the plant of choice for mazes since it grew quickly into an impenetrable barrier.

8. In what Stephen King novel did the topiary outside a snowbound hotel come alive?

Answer: The Shining

One of King's creepiest descriptions in the entire book.

9. What is a topiary standard with multiple balls of branches trained along the stem also known as?

Answer: a poodle

Typical poodle standards have two or three balls along the trunk or stem.

10. What is a type of topiary where a tree is trained in a flat, open pattern on a lattice or trellis? (often used on fruit trees when space is limited).

Answer: espalier

Apples and pears make great espalier specimens. The fruit can be thinned to hang decoratively from the branches.

Source: Author lacybear

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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