Mary Palmer Dargan, owner of Dargan Landscape Architects in Atlanta and professor of landscape architecture at Clemson University in South Carolina, also recommends Sasanqua camellias, "which are great to use under windows and on the bare sides of houses," she says. "I've also had success with pyracantha espaliers," she adds. The formal beauty of espalier frequently enhances her European-inspired garden designs.

Depending on the desired size and shape, a tree or series of trees takes approximately four to five years to hand-sculpt into centuries-old classic European forms, such as the horizontal cordon, fan, Belgian fence, or candelabra. These forms can be precise and geometric or slightly looser and more romantic. "We never use espalier in a pretentious way," Maddux notes. "It is seldom the focal point, and our patterns tend to be looser and less structured."

Knowing where to prune, where to influence, and how far to bend without breaking a stem are the keys to espalier success. While books instruct novice gardeners in espalier techniques, it is best to leave this delicate and time-consuming process to the experts -- especially for complicated and multiple plant arrangements.

During the growing season, in spring and summer, Thevenot typically works up to 12 hours a day in the nursery. In the process, he has learned to "listen" to his plants. "I can hear the sounds of motion in them," he says. "There are idiosyncrasies in each plant and tree. Some of them want to grow themselves for you. Others are mischievous."

At the end of the day, this homespun artist with pruning shears gives much of the credit to nature. "The technique merely accents what the plant is capable of doing on its own, and that is to grow. Espalier provides the artistic direction."