this picture (sept 8, 2008)
courtesy of stowupland, Flickr
courtesy of stowupland, Flickr
The picture above gives an impression of the Garden of ornaments in the community of Stowupland (Suffolk area, United Kingdom). As it was in september 2008. Meanwhile the garden has been demolished.
This garden has been created by Charles Bird (1933?-2006).
He made a career in the Royal Air Force, and in the late fifties for some six months he has been in the United States for a training.
The garden project probably came in full swing after mr Bird got retired (in the early 90's?).
Anyhow, the following pictures, shot in the 90's, show that in these years the garden was abundantly decorated with all kinds of colourful items
this and the next two pictures (made in the 90's)
courtesy of Katie Teague
Above picture shows a display with US license plates and a sign paying tribute to his "American connection", friends he had made in the United States.
Garden ornaments, like waterpumps and bird houses were Charles Bird's favourite items.
Mr Charles Bird died in february 2006. I suppose after some time the house has been sold and has got new owners, who may have thought that one waterpump and one birdhouse would be enough.
Documentation
* This outsider environment has been catalogued in the Detour Art website, where it is reported as "status unknown" and where a referral has been made to Rodger Manley & Mark Sloan, Self-made worlds: visionary environments. New York (Aperture), 1997 (a book I do not own).
* Through private correspondence with a member of Charles Bird's "American connection" (who, alas, lost contact with mr Bird), I got some biographical data and a number of pictures (thanks, Katie!) These pictures -on the diashow- give a good impression of the garden as it was:
first published: july 20111, revised jan 2012
Charles Bird
Charles Bird
Garden of ornaments
Sycamore Road
Stowupland, Suffolk, UK
garden demolished
Amazing collection of garden ornaments.These ornaments are very useful for our garden.Thanks to the writer for sharing garden ornaments pictures.
ReplyDeleteGarden ornaments are the essential part of garden.Above shown ornaments look so creative that makes your garden so attractive. I really like these garden ornaments.
ReplyDelete