Rectory Nursery and Hardware on Rectory Road, Garswood, by Gary Rogers
When Kevin Duffy opened Rectory Nurseries, he decided to ornament the area with outsider art, transforming the nursery into a world of fantasy. Outsider art is any art that is generally self-taught and not part of the mainstream, with unconventional ideas or complete fantasy worlds. For Kevin’s own original sculptures, he uses recycled and upcycled goods donated to the nursery. Nothing is bought from outside, and that includes the plants, which have all been grown on the property since before it was opened to the public.
A walk through of the artworks will reveal a world all its own, with buildings in the Tudor style of architecture, sculptures greeting passersby, and angels and other religious icons. There is even a chapel in which guests are welcome to light a candle or sign the guest book and leave a comment about the gardens. While entering the nursery is free, a tour of the sculptures requires a minimal charge which goes toward charitable organizations as well as local schools.