We've all seen 3-D stereograms whereby a two dimensional image of visual "noise" creates the illusion of a three dimensional picture or message.

The texture of a common garden hedge has just the sort of structure which could lend itself to being trimmed in such a way so as to replicate this effect in three dimensions.

While it would require the mind of an artist and the trimming skill of a mad genius to be able to produce stereogrammatical shrubbery unaided, by sight, a helpful computer program (similar to the numerous 3-D stereogram image generators that already exist all over the interweb) could plot and map out trimming instructions for amateurs. Simply upload an image of your hedge with the dimensions and select your desired "embedded" message, and the application constructs your plan of attack.

"Keep off grass" is just one potentially useful subliminal message suggestion that comes to mind, but the options are positively finite.
-- nihilo, May 22 2006

2-D hedges http://www.amblesid...b/stereograms/8.htm
Just add depth! [nihilo, May 22 2006]

A never-ending artistic work of love for your garden and neighbours that will only be appreciated by a few lucky ones. Pointless, beautiful, [+].
-- methinksnot, May 22 2006


nice.
-- po, May 23 2006


I'm not sure how this is going to work. Random dot stereograms work by a repetition of an exact pattern, and distortions in that pattern to clue the eye into depth. Is this just a word cut into a hedge or something else?
-- st3f, May 23 2006


[+] Good job.
-- kuupuuluu, May 23 2006


I concur with [st3f] - this would require precise positioning of every leaf, and a gentle breeze would ruin the effect forever. You could implement it with a rigid plastic hedge though.
-- hippo, May 23 2006


But leaves grow in directions uncontrollable. How would this be controlled?
-- harderthanjesus, May 23 2006


They won't - you can't control uncontrollable things
-- hippo, May 23 2006


cool - especially when it gets a virus and makes monstrous growths... I see a mad hedge roving out of control with a horrible blinking eye +
-- xenzag, May 23 2006


Ever see "Labyrith" with David Bowie? That movie was freaky, and had one very memorable instance of sterogramed rocks making a face at me.
-- notmarkflynn, May 23 2006


If it weren't difficult, it wouldn't be worthwhile.

But if worse comes to worst, we could install synthetic shrubbiesque cubes on the lawn with 3-D hedges printed on their faces. Subliminal AND ironic.
-- nihilo, May 23 2006


This would be wonderful for scaring the hell out of passing air pilots by incorporating it into Astroturf fields.
-- rubyminky, May 23 2006


genius, it's the only word to describe this idea.

except perhaps visionary.

lovely.
-- neilp, Jun 02 2006



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