Artists Bill & Mary Buchen have created Bell Garden at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown, CT. The artwork addresses both the landscape and soundscape of the campus. Bell Garden is an interactive learning environment for investigating natural phenomena and music. Within it are courtyard areas for study and play, environmental sculptures and a garden setting.

Bell Flower Garden
Garden plantings feature flowers with names or forms referring to bells, such as: Campanulas (the Latin name for bell), Yucca and Coral Bells Boomerang Seat among others. Tended by the youth as part of the horticulture curriculum, the garden connects an aesthetic appreciation of nature with their role as its caretakers. In addition to flowers, other plantings incorporated into the garden design include foliage plants, grasses and evergreen plantings to offer year round color and interest.

Wind Reeds / Bell Trees
Small bells hanging from the curved ‘branches’ of the four stainless steel ‘trees’ are played by the wind.

Science Garden
Within the square courtyard a Sundial and Star Sphere provide tools for studying the sun’s movement and the night sky. The Star Sphere depicts major constellations through perforations illuminated from the interior at night and are also readable by day. The Sundial is technically a heliochronometer which is easily read; the most accurate type of sundial; and tells Standard Time. A curved offers additional seating and refers to the thermal gliding of birds visible from the site and the science of flight. The tiled tables and seats can be used for playing chess or checkers or having lunch.

Music Garden
An array of nine bronze drums in the circular paved courtyard serve dual purpose as tables and seats plus instruments for communal music making. Three conga-shaped drums are played from a standing position. Radiating paving circles replicate patterns of sound waves.

Carillon
The carillon is programmed to strike on the hour between 7am and 7pm by playing the number of bell tones denoting the time. In addition, a programmable system located n the chapel allows students and staff to compose and play music on a keyboard unit. Music played by the carillon is selected by the school staff. When programmed, students and staff compositions may be heard 2 minutes after every hour.

Bell
The bell was relocated from the Long Lane School bell tower. It was made by Henry Mcshane & Company, Baltimore Maryland in 1885 and the inscription reads, “Long Lane Industrial School, Middletown, Connecticut” it is a priceless sonic and visual artifact of the history of Long Lane and can be played by giving the bell a push until the clapper strikes.