Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The Secret Garden

Welcome once again to our "secret garden". Our garden is at the front of our home as the house is built right in the water. We wanted to created a place that still felt secluded and mysterious even though it is on the road itself. Perhaps I have been influenced by a favorite children's book "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

I find as the years go by, I am still fine tuning how I want the garden to feel and look (with the emphasis on the feeling in the garden). Many comment about this feeling when they visit our garden but I have not been able to put that into my photographs. I wish I could! Here are a few of the changes I was talking about in my last entry.


As you may remember, we added the iron gate last year. My wisteria has bloomed and now the green leaves are taking over. As they grow and combine with our red birch hedgerow, they add to the idea that you cannot see the entry gate right away from the street. But like little Mary Lennox, if you can find the door amongst the growth, you can enter the secret garden and it will come to life...

This year, we added a large urn which I have filled with pretty purple petunias. I love old fashioned flowers.

We also hung a mirror on one of the walls to add more depth to our tiny city garden. I fell in love with this mirror which is shaped like a church window.

I love the reflection of the flower filled urn in the mirror but it also gives the illusion that there is yet another garden room behind the wall.

One thing I find important is to look for accessories in your garden that really touch you. Little things like the lantern, child's wooden shoes and abstract bird statue I have placed on the wooden bench are just as important as the flowers in the garden.

If you have never read the children's book "The Secret Garden", why not treat yourself this summer. The story is about Mary Lennox who comes to live with her uncle at Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire Moors after the death of her parents. The characters come to life on the pages of this joyous book and a perfect summer read. Do it for the child that lives in you! Here is an excerpt from Chapter 8:

"She looked at the key quite a long time. She turned it over and over, and thought about it. As I have said before, she was not a child who had been trained to ask permission or consult her elders about things. All she thought about the key was that if it was the key to the closed garden, and she could find out where the door was, she could perhaps open it and see what was inside the walls, and what had happened to the old rose-trees. It was because it had been shut up so long that she wanted to see it. It seemed as if it must be different from other places and that something strange must have happened to it during ten years. Besides that, if she liked it she could go into it every day and shut the door behind her, and she could make up some play of her own and play it quite alone, because nobody would ever know where she was, but would think the door was still locked and the key buried in the earth. The though of that pleased her very much."

17 comments:

Nancy said...

Onlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy you would think to hang a mirror in your garden. Oh My.
I love the way the flowers reflect in it. The mirror is so pretty, love the shape. You were always a child lost in books and could make up your own pretty well also. (Little Red Riding Hood), You were a fun little girl and now your are a big fun little girl.
I love you bunches you know.
Mom

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

What a beautiful, beautiful job you are doing, with your garden. It must be magical, in real life.

Hope you are feeling better...

Gentle hugs,
Aunt Amelia

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

The Secret Garden is my favorite book - I have the video too and love that just as much. I have the version of The Secret Garden that is illustrated by Tasha Tudor - what a delight!!! Your garden is absolutely lovely - each little detail.

Tammy said...

LOVELY LOVELY garden! and a great book also, one of my favorites. Thanks so much for sharing your pretty pictures.
Hugs2u

LissyLou said...

Your garden is lovely. I love mirrors in gardens x

Ginny said...

Your garden is beautiful, and even through the pictures, I can sense the serenity.

HAWTHORN HALL said...

The Secret Garden is my favourite children's book and I have read it many times. My favourite edition and the one I own is illustrataed by Tasha Tudor whose work I admire. Your "Secret Garden" is quite lovely. I love the mirror and your beautiful plants! I wonderful place to read a few pages in a treasured book.

Gillian

Sonja said...

Finally I get to see your mirror! And it is really as beautiful as I expected it to be! I know how small your garden is and I do admit that once I am at the inside of your gardendoor, it really feels coozy.

Linda said...

Hi Heidi....enchanting is the word I think of when I look at the pictures of your lovely garden. I love all your special touches especially the mirror and the wonderful urn filled with petunias. I have't read the Secret Garden in years...I'm going to look for a copy at my little used book store...have you seen the movie? I have it and love to watch it on a lazy day...which I seem to be having way too many off...hugs, Linda

Linda said...

This is so pretty Heidi. I've seen outdoor garden rooms with the mirrors like you have. I've always loved that look! I also like just empty window frames hanging around - they sort of make a divider between the various "rooms". I've read the Secret Garden several times. I also collect different editions of it.

Linda in VA

Annemarie said...

Your pictures tell the story of your garden quite well, Heidi, and so do you. Love the mirror! I've been spending time in the small garden too. Since my fingers remain stubbornly flesh-coloured I thought I'd start with the small garden :o)

Can I share a guilty secret here? I don't like 'The Secret Garden'. Sacrilege, I know, but it's true. Love the idea, but the execution... pfff. Let's discuss it at our next Sip & Stitch :o)

faerieeva said...

I love that book. Though I have an even greater weakness for her other two: A little Princess and Little Lord Fauntleroy. That garden though is absolutely magnificent. It is the garden I would love to have one day.

Melanie said...

I love your storybook secret garden - it's beautiful! Thanks for the visit. :-)

Caroline said...

What a gorgeous, enchanting garden you are creating. This will be the most gorgeous hang out in summer...

The secret garden, aaaaah, I must have read it at least a dozen times...

Mary said...

Right now I would swap my larger garden for your pretty, cozy little city garden. With the temps. in the 90's, high humidity, and me trying to struggle back from this nasty bronchial infection, gardening is the last thing on my to do list!

I have several mirrors in the garden - I've noticed how one bird seem to perform what must be a mating dance in front of one of them - it's quite hilarious to watch.

Enjoy your secret garden Heidi - I have the movie in my 'queue' for when Jasmin gets out of school for Summer vacation.

Gossamer Creations said...

Your garden is so beautiful.....yes I can feel it...lovely. I am always aware of how my home feels inside and out. I have never read that book. I think I will have to get it to read this summer...I love to read. Have a wonderful week and I hope you are feeling better.
~Sue~

dea said...

What a beautiful, beautiful job you are doing, with your garden. It must be magical, in real life.