USD Magazine Fall 2006

GREEN ELEPHANTS AND LEAFY PYRAMIDS San Di ego coup l e t rans forms the i r h i l l s i de yard i n t o a l u s h wo n d e r l a n d o f w h i m s i c a l g r e e n e r y by Kelly Knufken [ t o p i a r y ]

peppering conversation with quips like, "I’d rather be in front of a jury than make a mistake (in the topiary garden); that puts me in the doghouse." While Harper does help out in the garden, he spends much of his free time on his motorcycle, often riding with friends. He loves to ride up Mount Palomar — one of his favorite jaunts — or to Los Angeles or Palm Springs. “Trial work and motorcycle rid- ing give me the same euphoric feeling,” he says. Harper’s connection with the schools that became USD began with a visit to the campus. “Out- side was a very imposing person with all these beautiful colors, and I knew right away it was his excellency, Bishop Buddy. He

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years, Harper has put his 1963 J.D. degree from USD to good use as a securities trial attorney. “When I was 9 years old, I wanted to be a lawyer,” he says with pride. “I’m semi-retired. I think I’ll retire when they cre- mate me. And then maybe I’ll still work.” He misses trial work,

The keepers of all this garden whimsy are Alex Harper and his wife, Edna. Although the topiary zoo does require upkeep, their life isn’t all green elephants and leafy pyramids. Edna — the force behind the garden — has a number of artistic hobbies. And over the

s an adult, it’s hard to recapture the feelings of pure enjoyment you expe-

rienced as a child. So when you drive past a lush green menagerie of whimsical elephants, birds and even Shamu in a San Diego neigh- borhood, you may be caught off guard by the sheer joy it evokes.

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