Reinventing the Garden

Pearl Fryar's fascination with sculpting trees and bushes began with a simple challenge--to win the community’s "yard of the month" award. The topiary bug bit and Pearl began transforming the landscape around his house into a gallery of abstract forms, shaping native and exotic plants with garden shears and a hedge trimmer. Learn more about Pearl Fryar on A Natural State.

Topiary Garden

Episode 2

Video

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Pearl Fryar, a local gardener in Bishopville, South Carolina describes the kind of trees and bushes he grows in his topiary garden. Most common topiary plants are evergreen and have small, dense...

Topiary Garden Tour

Episode 5

Video

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

One of the oldest sections of Pearl Fryar's garden is anchored around a Christmas tree he replanted in 1982. Success at cultivating the Eastern white pine, a native of the Blue Ridge of South Carolina...

Pearl Fryar's Philosophy

Episode 9

Video

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Pearl Fryar believes his skills as an artist continues to grow because others take time to acknowledge and encourage his efforts. The idea of making a difference in another person's life, and how...

Bishopville Community

Episode 10

Video

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Pearl Fryar attributes his passion for topiary to art scholars and promoters who had supported his work early in its development. In the past few years, Pearl has been featured on Home and Garden...

Winning Yard of the Month

Episode 11

Video

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

After living in New York and Atlanta, Pearl followed his job with a packaging company to rural Bishopville, South Carolina. Though Pearl had no family in the area, he literally "put roots" down after...

Work Ethic

Episode 12

Video

Grades: 6 7 8

Pearl Fryar uses The Gates as an example of artwork that celebrates the experience and moment of the creative act. The viewer's opportunity to interact with and be inspired by the art work justifies...