7. Lunatic Asylum and Hollow Lawn

Narrator:

When Bowles was young a vast clump of evergreens occupied this area. It was the sort of planting you might see in a London square. Laurels grew here. In showery weather they gave off a smell that reminded Bowles of dirty dog. Spotted Aucubas and Privet also grew here. Bowles thought it was all quite dismal, so he had the mass of greenery cleared away and blocks of Kentish ragstone were put down to form two rocky mounds and irregularly shaped beds. The idea was that this would be his Japanesegarden. – And some cherries and bamboos were planted. But before he developed the theme any further, Bowles decided Japanese-style gardens had become too fashionable. He was put off the idea when giant toads, pagodas and jingling glass bird-scarers were all the rage at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Great Spring Show. Despite his misgivings, the Wisterias and Magnolias that grow around here still give this area a Japanese feel at times.

MUSIC: fade in and run under from ‘some strange and abnormal plans

By the time Bowles gave up on the idea of a Japanese garden, he had acquired the corkscrew Hazel you can see growing here. It was given to him by Canon Ellacombe. Some strange and abnormal plants were discovered by Bowles himself. These included a pigmy form of Elder. Another, the Plymouth Strawberry, was a variety of woodland strawberry that was first described in the 17thcentury. You can also see Hedgehog Holly, or curly leaved holly, growing here.

In his book My Garden in Spring, Bowles wrote:

Voice of Bowles :

The freaks have increased in number and are now under the protection of the cherries and bamboos.

Narrator:

As a result of growing these gnarled, twisted and unusual plants, this area of the garden became known as the Lunatic Asylum.

MUSIC FADE UP ON MUSIC and OUT.