Yep, here it is...the Big Elephant Bush!  When tailgating it's fun to see all the beautiful things around campus and the quad.  I took this photo the weekend of the Iron Bowl and just wanted to share.

Every year i think i say, "I'm gonna try to do that one day!"  Here's what i know so far.

Simply cut the evergreen back to a height of 8 inches with a clean, sharp pruning clipper after planting to promote new, thick growth. Cut off one-half of the new plant growth at the end of the first growing season to stimulate new, thick growth the following spring. Repeat the cutting of one-half of new plant growth after the second growing season.

Make a wire mesh cage in the shape of the animal (or in this case Big Al) if there are curves and details that might be hard to cut without a guide. Alternatively, purchase an animal-shaped wire mesh cage, available at gardening retailers. Place the wire mesh cage over top of the young bush so the branches grow through the spaces and fill in the holes.

Draw the desired shape on a piece of cardboard in the size you want the finished topiary animal. Cut out the shape and use is as a template while trimming the bush into the animal shape.

Shape the evergreen in the spring of the third growing season. Remove only those tips that have grown through the wire mesh or outside the desired shape. Clip small amounts off the ends of the branches to prevent taking off too much at one time. Hold the cardboard template to the bush while making cuts to help obtain the desired animal shape. Repeat this step each spring until the bush has filled in the open cage space and the shape of Big AL is created.  Then get ready for Wild Bill to come to your yard and take photos while saying, "I'm gonna do this next year!"

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