Welcome to your secret garden.

Come inside, my secret garden,

where no one is broken hearted.

The sound of trickling water springs

will soothe your heart until it sings.

What is a Secret Garden?

Imagine a space that soothes and delights, a place hidden from the crazy world outside. Here are no emails, no alarms and no traffic jams.

This can be our secret – well, YOUR secret.

The name “Secret Garden” is a misnomer – very few of us have gardens big enough to isolate a whole area, hide it behind a wall, or a large hedge, and then keep it secret from our everyday garden visitors…If that is you however, go at it! Feel free to create a vastly secret garden, with a locked door, mazes, pathways and everything else your heart desires.(Check out the classic film of the same name for some fantasy Secret Garden inspiration,)

If, however, you are a normal person with a normal sized backyard, you can still create a Secret(ish) Garden and give yourself a spot to disappear to when the world comes calling.

First up: Hide it well.

The whole point of a Secret(ish) Garden is that it is not “in your face”. It probably won’t be right next to your front door or be overlooked by your dining room window.

How you “hide” it, will be influenced by your gardening style and garden aesthetic. You can use a growing/living barrier, or a man-made built divider. We like the idea of using a mix of living and man-made elements. This means you don’t have to wait for your hedge, wall of bamboo or bed of decorative grass to grow-in before you can enjoy your little secret.

We found great inspiration for all kinds of garden dividers here: Country Living

Illusions are wonderful tools.

You don’t have to hide your secret garden completely – its more about creating the illusion of a separate space. Even just an archway with a climbing plant like Jasmin or rambling roses will create a lovely garden element and entice your visitors to explore a bit further.  An Arbor, or garden arch, can be a lovely base for a climbing plant, but it can add just as much magic to your garden as a stand alone feature.

For inspiration we went to Better Homes & Gardens for beautiful Arbor and arch ideas.

Only pick your favourites

A secret garden is all about indulgence. Choose only your dearest and favourite plants for this part of the garden. If you are a flower person, this is where you get to shine. From soft growing smaller flowers like violets, pansies and petunias, to larger flowering shrubs or rose bushes, play around with your favourite colours and spoil your senses. Make the most of levels and dimension, and use pots, planters and even hanging basket elements if that works for you. As we always say – there are no rules, as long as you love it.

If you have s specific garden style that might be dictated by your climate, or home-owners association rules, a Secret Garden (hidden from view and small enough to artificially water and fertilize without breaking the bank) can be a wonderful playground to live out your wildest garden dreams.

Hide from the world.

A secret garden is all about stepping away from the everyday. Whether it’s a patch of soft emerald lawn, a step, a low wall or dedicated garden furniture, give yourself a spot to sit and contemplate. If you have the space a hammock or a basket swing can also be an everyday luxury in your little secret kingdom.

For the ultimate indulgence we like this very in vogue wicker outdoor seating set.

Healing waters

Another luxurious secret Garden element is a water feature. This can be as big or small as you want, with space and budget being your only limits. If, however you are planning a waterwise secret garden, you can also just use elements like a bird bath to harness the magic of water.

Give yourself grace.

The most important thing about creating a secret garden is that it should be a stressful experience. A secret garden takes time to grow, and so should you.

Welcome to my secret garden (Walk through Ida George’s garden and breathe a little deeper)