“Nothing is more the child of art than a garden.” Sir Walter Scott

In the classic children's tale, The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett Hodgson, readers are treated to an intriguing story of a young girl’s discovery of a forbidden place of wonder and awe.

Since this classic book was published in 1911, the world’s fascination with creating their own therapeutic gardens of myth and magic has taken deep root.

Nothing captures the imagination quite like a secret garden. Filled with mystery, intrigue, awe, and magic, a secret garden is an invitation to our little hideaway from the fast-paced outside world. Not knowing it’s there, discovering a secret garden is filled with surprise, awe and wonder, and the invitation to enter within to find great discoveries.

Not only that, but a secret garden invites you to become a co-creator with it. Whether that is the act of gardening itself or creating something to remain in the garden. As you create in the garden you make inside discoveries and have enchanted moments that remain deep inside you as well as remain in the secret garden.

Elements of a Secret Garden

Have you ever dreamed of a secret place where only you can go and be alone? In a fast-paced world of noise and clutter, a sanctuary filled with flowers and fragrance, one that is sheltered from the rest of the world, is a dream that is easily achieved.

Secret Garden Element 1: It's Hidden (it's a Secret!)

I know this may sound like the obvious, but honestly, this is the essential part. The fastest way to create a secret garden is to ensure it has boundaries that can't easily be seen through. I will either use an existing wall or solid fencing when designing secret gardens. I also have used living fences such as planting a hedge or tree line that will grow quite tall.

Sometimes, the best secret gardens can be created under the large and old boughs of ancient trees. I've also used the wall of a house, the side of a garage, or rock hedge to create a secret oasis that no one expects to be there.

When helping others create their own secret gardens, oftentimes the first request I make is that the whole process itself a secret. Even when gardens are created inside greenscapes, I encourage their owners to never put them on the map. We don't want everyone knowing where secret hideaways are, do we?

Secret Garden Element 2: Outside the Wall

When creating a secret garden, I encourage the builder to start this magical experience before guests ever enter the grounds. Creating an atmosphere of enticement, intrigue, and invitation gets the pulse pounding and the stomach butterflies fluttering! The goal is to offer an entrance, or even the path to the entrance, that piques curiosity and gets guests wondering, "What's this? What's behind the door?"

While our garden visitors are pondering those questions, make sure that they are captivated by smells. The first room I always plant in a secret garden is a “smell experience” and this is achieved with native plants and flowers that are big "smellers."

The first words I'm always waiting to hear from a garden visitor is, "It smells so good!"

Please know that if the flowers are the only thing you see in the secret garden (without actually venturing in), you will still have a fantastic experience. An experience of a beautiful, organic garden design and smell. It will captivate you completely.

Secret Garden Element 3: The Door/Gate ~ Secret Hole in the Hedge

"What's behind that door? Can we go in? "

If you are brave to venture into a place that you haven't technically been invited into, it can cause your heart to race a bit with anticipation. Thoughts of "Will I get caught?" might surface to the forefront of the mind. But for those who are truly brave, the minute they open up the door, they have entered a garden room of the imagination.

Soon they forget the outside world, and the only thing they can think of is exploring.

Secret Garden Element 4: Places to Explore

There are always places to explore in the Second Room of a secret garden. These areas might be planted with swaths of attractive flowers or include a curly willow tree or a contorted mulberry tree to climb or sit under. These unique trees add intrigue and some of them remind me of the Whomping Willow from the Harry Potter books!

Another favorite way to create a magical room in your secret garden is to build a wall or tower, which looks like ancient and mysterious ruins. These "ruins" can include a hidden platform or patio that encourages visitors to play or imagine for hours. These areas are also the perfect place to have a tree swing. Who doesn't love a tree swing?!

Secret Garden Element 5: Meandering Paths

Pathways are also essential, and I always try to make them look ancient by using stone instead of traditional pavers. I plant small and wandering plants like dandelions in-between the stones for an extra touch of whimsy.

If space allows, I have a path leading to a hydrangea or holly tunnel with a secret exit to leave the garden. But hopefully, visitors won't go because there is more to see! The trail also leads to the next room, which serves as the Inner Sanctum of the secret garden. There will also be a secret exit to the outside world out of the Inner Sanctum. One will have to go exploring to find all of these exits.

Secret Garden Element 5: The Inner Sanctum

The pathway leads into the Inner Sanctum. The meandering path does just that; it wanders. In the past, I have included creative structures such as a nest or another stick structure that delineates the 2nd secret garden room from the Inner Sanctum.

Inside the Inner Sanctum is a place to sit and ponder. A place to breathe in nature's goodness and rest up from your time exploring and discovering the delights of a secret garden.

To encourage slow time, there may be large stones to sit and or lay on to ponder about things, a tiny library to house excellent reading materials, and space enough to move about it.

I've seen many people dance inside an Inner Sanctum, work on their cartwheels, play leapfrog. Of course, inner sanctums can be modified to size.

A Secret Garden Journey

The experience I'd like all visitors of a secret garden to have is to be invited into an unexpected space, leaving the outside world behind. By the time guests are done visiting the Inner Sanctum, all thoughts of the outside world are left behind and focus on the self, needs, and healing can occur. As they move deeper into the Secret Garden, they are moving deeper into their being.

Healing isn't a cure. Healing is to make you whole again. Often, that is as easy as a shift in perception.

May your days be filled with the wild abandon of childhood; imagine filled days. Here are some places you can visit a secret garden near you: