Tatton Gardens, a Liverpool estate, is soliciting for an ornamental hermit for its garden show from July 22-26, 2009, according to an article in the Liverpool Daily. The head gardener, Sam Youd, who holds an uncompromisingly Gothic view of what a hermit should be — but consistent with the 18th- and 19th- century estate holder’s view of eremitism — has indicated his criteria for a garden hermit, along with living in a “grotesque” place and with a skull: “It will take a certain type of person to do justice to the hermits of the 18th and 19th century,” said Mr Youd. “The Hermit’s Grotto is pretty grotesque, but that reflects the reality of a hermit’s environment.”
Additionally, Mr. Youd insists that the hermit must have:
- an unkempt natural appearance;
- love of solitude;
- vow of silence;
- facial hair (male or female);
- overgrown toenails.
The article is entered under “Golf News.” No mention of any of this on the Royal Horticultural Society Tatton Gardens web site (http://www.rhs.org.uk/whatson/shows/tattonpark2009/).