Patricia Eckels is sharing photos of one of the most extraordinary gardens in the United States today, which was created by Pearl Fryar, an entirely self-taught sculptor of trees.
The Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden in Bishopville, South Carolina, is a 3-acre garden with 400 sculpted, trimmed, and shaped shrubs, trees, and plants. Mr. Fryar has been working on the topiaries for 20 years. He is now is his 80s, his health has been declining, and he is unable to keep up with his garden. Several organizations are working together to provide grants to preserve Fryar’s life work. People from the community have gotten together to weed, trim, and do everything they can. The only thing they can’t do is reach the high trees. They need a lift to do that and don’t have one as of today. Hopefully, they will be able to keep Mr. Fryar’s gardens beautiful with help.
A sign welcomes you to the garden.
The sheer number of intricately shaped shrubs is almost overwhelming.
Pearl Fryar’s wild creativity is evident everywhere you look in the garden.
It’s hard to imagine how much time it must take to keep all of these shrubs perfectly pruned.
It is easy to see why the garden needs a lift in order to maintain some of the tallest topiary sculptures.
I love the way the shrubs are shaped so that they almost seem to ripple and move
Topiary is a very old art developed in European gardens, but Pearl Fryar has a unique take on it, creating forms like this that are utterly different than the traditional shapes used in topiary gardens.
Some of the shrubs look almost like mythical animals inhabiting the garden. I hope this incredible garden can be preserved!
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Comments
Check out the documentary "A Man Named Pearl" from 2006. I was able to find a DVD at the library - or you may be able to stream it.
Thank you, Patricia, for sharing the photos. I have a friend who visited a good many years back & Pearl was there working. She talked a good while with him & was so impressed with all he had done. It will be a real shame if this is lost.
Amazing what sculptures can come out of patience and plants!
Wow I will look for the documentary mentioned above!
Thanks for sharing!
I saw the documentary several years ago and was visually and emotionally blown away by his passion and skill. Pearl's work is extraordinary and as far as I'm concerned, he is an American Treasure. Thank you for sharing this with GPOD, Patricia.
Wow, is the garden open for tours? so inspiring..I would love to see it, will look for the documentary…thank you for sharing
There are no tours per say. Anyone can go there and walk through his gardens. There is a donation box on the property.
pasoroblesexcavating.com/
Wow very nice place. Thank you for sharing.
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