You See a Hedge. He Sees Something Else.

When Tim Bushe decided to trim some hedges one recent evening, he attracted more attention than usual for a routine garden chore.

Walkers slowed to take photos and ask questions. Neighbors stepped over piles of leaf clippings to thank him. A driver honked and gave a thumbs up.

Mr. Bushe is used to attention. It happens every time he gives his two gigantic, furry elephants a haircut. They are just one set of a collection of hedges on residential streets that Mr. Bushe has transformed from overgrown plants into whimsical creations.

His hedge menagerie includes two cats, a squirrel, a hippo and a fish. There is also, experimentally, a reclining nude woman. He hopes a giant rabbit will join them this summer.

Mr. Bushe’s topiary creations include, clockwise from top left: elephants, a monster head, a freight train, and a pair of cats.

His hedges have for years delighted residents and bemused others who stumble across them. They even collect reviews as local landmarks on Google maps, from the no-nonsense (“Well maintained”) to the effusive (“My life is now complete after seeing this beautiful hedge.”).