The Secret Garden

 It's the dead of winter, yet my thoughts always seem to turn to the garden.  I was taught at a young age that only in the winter can you see the bones of a well designed garden.  The phrase Mother used was "any fool can have a garden in May and June"!  What she meant was that a flower garden (or border) is a relatively simple approach to gardening.  Only when you consider how the garden looks when everything is bare can you really see the "bones" or structure, much like designing a room in the home.

My favorite gardens have always been secret gardens.  Typically small and tucked away from the prying eyes of neighbors or street view, these gardens offer a private outdoor "room" if you will....a place to sit and solve the problems of the world...or perhaps just the one most pressing.

A secret garden must have some type of enclosure.  I love a brick wall with a well designed and classic gate, but I have seen many that have tall wooden fences and even green walls of trimmed old growth shrubbery.

  Key to any secret garden is seating, not to much but just enough for two, and something lovely to ponder on...such as the concrete orb or an urn of flora.  Also key for me is boxwood borders, white flowers (if any), and pea gravel or brick paths.  A patch of green grass is nice but awfully difficult to maintain in enclosed spaces, which are typically shady.

 Last but not least is a garden structure, whether a folly or a working shed for tools and potting of plants.  For me, it reminds me of childhood and having a playhouse!  I love the classic ones I happened upon below.  The first picture is of one designed by David Adler, and the second is an English working structure with great style.

 Your idea of a secret garden could even be a working garden.  In this time of organic food mania, growing your own veggies may be very appealing, plus you can make it look appealing as well!

Take your mind off the snow, ice, and wind chill to consider the garden.  Now is the time for all good gardeners make their plans!  Don't be a May/June variety gardener....lay in the bones first to create your own secret garden!

As always...xx.DT