CITY OF LAKE WALES – A unique butterfly has landed in the pollinator garden across from the library. This rather large insect did not fly here but rode on a flatbed trailer from Tellico Plains, Tennessee to Lake Wales. This beautiful sculpture topiary was created by an accomplished artist named Joe Kyte, also known as Topiary Joe. Topiary Joe has been creating this kind of artwork since the early 1990s. His resume boasts an impressive client list such as Disney and Cypress Gardens and also famous hotels, resorts and museums.
Stephanie Lutton, director of parks and recreation was inspired by sculptures she experienced at a Disney World park. “I saw gorgeous topiary butterfly sculptures at Disney’s Epcot Flower and Garden Festival,” she explained. Lutton found Topiary Joe through a Google search inquiring about Disney topiary artists. Lutton is working to secure seven more pieces of public art for the 9 concrete pads that were installed as a feature of the pollinator garden park. The first sculpture, the kinetic sculpture donated by Robin and Jean Gibson, was recently placed at the other end of the park.
City horticulturist Kevin Polk and his crew placed the sculpture on the pad at the Park Avenue end of the park. Polk is in the planning stages for the topiary. Now that the artwork has been delivered, he can order the moss and plants that fill the structure. The foliage will be watered with tubing irrigation placed inside the topiary. He is planning on using low-maintenance plants, such as creeping fig. The topiary growth will unfold over the next few months.
