BIO: Robert WATSON, an inveterate hunter, believed that he would be born as a fox in his next reincarnation, so he built for himself a mausoleum containing tunnels in which a fox could safely hide from the hounds and decreed that never again should hunting be permitted on his lands! Larchill farm in Co. Kildare, was transformed in the 18th century where the normal activities of the farm took place in surroundings of classical beauty, and Michael and Louisa DE LAS CASAS, who moved there nearly 10 years ago, have accomplished a small miracle by lovingly bringing the beautiful gardens back to life after a century and a half of neglect. Many lovely color photos of Larchill can be found in the July-August 2002 issue of "Ireland of the Welcomes." In the 18th century a Dublin haberdasher by the name of PRENTICE set to work to transform 65 acres of pasture to a garden of delights at Larchill, embellished with statuary, trees, flower-beds, buildings and even a lake. (The neighboring estate of Dangan, was later to be the birthplace of the Duke of Wellington). Work began at Larchill in the 1740s. The undertaking included many months of digging to make a large lake and a series of canals and garden ornaments on a large scale known as "follies" were built -- temples, fortresses and castles. Groups of trees were carefully planted to frame each particular vista. The fortunes of the PRENTICEs dwindled in the 1760s and thereafter the property was leased. The present house was built in the 1780s and the WATSON family came in 1790. The last of the WATSONs left in the middle of the 19th century and that was the end of the days of the maintenance of the garden. (It is unknown whether the soul of Robert WATSON was indeed bor! n again in the body of a fox.) An old shell tower presents visitors to the farm with a lovely view down to the lake (and away to the tall spire of J. J. McCARTHY 's 1840s Chapel at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth) with its remaining lovely old gold geometric-patterned windows and walls beautifully decorated with a variety of sea-shells. The present owners , the de las Casas, have not only brought their historically-important and charming country residence back to life, and share it with others (daily afternoons/early evening May to September, other times by appointment) but they have filled their huge farmyard with "follies" of their own creation with an interesting collection of rare and exotic animals. Larchill Arcadian Garden Kilcock, Co. Kildare E-mail: delascas@indigo.ie