NORMAN TOWER GARDEN 31 



sight and scent. It is very pleasant going through the garden 

 *' when the eve is cool," or after a shower, to catch the scent 

 of sweet-briar here, or lilac there, or maybe a subtle com- 

 bination of odours which, defying analysis, awakens some 

 long-forgotten memory, conjures up an incident or possibly 

 a scene of childhood's days. 



The garden is at its best during the spring months, when 

 the bulbs and flowering shrubs, the rock and Alpine plants 

 are giving their wealth of bloom, and again in early summer, 

 when the roses are in flower. It is then much admired by 

 and gives pleasure to thousands of visitors to the castle who 

 can see it from the outside, as well as to those who are 

 privileged to view its treasures at closer quarters. 



In concluding this chapter on the Norman Tower garden, 

 it is impossible to avoid the thought of how great is the 

 contrast between what it now is and what it was but a few 

 years ago. Then there were some hollies, lilacs and arbutus, 

 with other common, almost wild, shrubs dotted about here 

 and there on its banks. A few trees, a few self-sown flowers, 

 and a small attempt from time to time at a formal style of 

 carpet bedding. Now the same banks are adorned with 

 many trees and nicely clothed with numerous choice shrubs. 

 Terraces have been made, paths and steps constructed, low 

 retaining walls built ; arbours, fountains, bowers and per- 

 golas have been designed to make the garden a place of 

 charm and interest, a place to be seen in all weathers in 

 ease and comfort, a place for pleasure, repose and privacy. 

 All these, and many other features besides, help to afford most 

 excellent opportunities for cultivating and inspecting many 

 rare and lovely plants. Its shady lawns, its well-filled flower 

 borders, its unique position in the very centre of England's 

 proudest castle, all combine to make the garden, as one of the 

 poets says, 



" A lovesome thing 

 God wot 



Rose plot 

 Fringed pool 

 Fern'd grot 



The veriest school of peace." 



