By Holly McGuinness
An eye-catching display of carefully shaped hedges are hidden among the streets of Sunshine.
Maintained by Phung Nguyen, it’s hard to walk past without stopping for a peek.
Mr Nguyen says the inspiration for his unique creations stems from his childhood.
“It’s my hobby, in my childhood I would see cartoon animals and then when I grew up and read magazines I would see the Japanese bonsai and think, I want to do that,” he said.
“Anyone from kids to old people will stop to have a look at them.”
Mr Nguyen came to Australia in 1989 from Vietnam.
He said he has always loved Japanese Bonsai and although he has a Japanese grandmother he said it’s more of a respectful hobby for him than a cultural connection.
This is the second home he’s created the still life zoo, previously living in Barnett Street, he’s picked up and started again on Duke Street in Sunshine.
He said the hedges begin in pots before being transferred to the garden underneath a wire skeleton shaped like an animal.
He said it can take up to seven years for them to take their full shape.
His next project is to craft the bonsai trees that are currently growing scattered throughout the garden, but framing is set up for a second giraffe to take shape over the next few years.
