Yet, even in such gardens, it is not impossible that some impress of the
personal influence may be beneficently given, but the range of operation
is extremely limited, the greatest knowledge and ability are needed,
with the sure action of the keenest and most restrained judgment.
CAMPSEY ASHE
In Eastern Suffolk, within a few miles of the sea, is this, the country
home of the Hon. William Lowther.
The house, replacing an older one that occupied the same site, is of
brick and stone, built in the earlier part of the nineteenth century. A
moat, inclosing an unusually large area, and formerly entirely
encompassing the house and garden, is now partly filled up; but one long
arm remains, running the greater part of the length of the house and
garden; a shorter length bounding the inclosed garden on the opposite
side. The longer length of moat approaches the house closely on its
eastern face, and then forms the boundary of a large and
beautifully-kept square lawn, with fine old cedars and other trees.
Following this southward is a double walled garden, with the main paths,
especially those of the nearer division, bordered with flowers. Beyond
these again is the portion of the garden that forms the subject of the
picture--a small parterre of box-edged beds with a row of old clipped
yews beyond. This leads westward to a grove of trees, with a statue also
girt with trees standing in an oval in the midmost space.
The garden has beautiful incidents in abundance, but is somewhat
bewildering. Traces of the older gardening constantly appear; but their
original cohesion has been lost. The moat, always an important feature,
ends suddenly at four points. Garden-houses and gazebos, that usually
come at salient points with determinate effect, seem to have strayed
into their places. Sections of the park seem to have broken loose and
lost themselves in the garden. The garden is not the less charming in
detail, but is impossible to gather together or hold in a clear mental
grasp, from the absence of general plan.
Besides the old clipped yews in the picture, others, apparently of the
same age, inclose an oval bowling-green. In form they are as if they had
been at first cut as a thick hedge with a roof-like sloping top. From
this, at fairly regular intervals, spring great rounded masses, that,
with the varying vigour of the individual trees and the continual
clipping without reference to a fixed design, have asserted themselves
after their own fashion. Though symmetry has been lost, the place has
gained in pictorial value. Four ways lead in; the larger bosses guarding
the entrances.
So it is throughout this charming but puzzling garden. Ever a glimpse of
some delightful old-world incident, and then the baffled effort to fit
together the disjointed members of what must once have been a definite
design.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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