Who hasn’t dreamed of a secret garden? A walled-in sanctuary, cut off from the outside world, where flowers, fairies, and bees hold court. Such a garden that is separate from all else may not be possible for most of us, but we can create a secret garden, of a sort, by using a wall, a hedge, or a fence to form one side of a partially enclosed space. It does not have to be a large enclosure. In fact, the smaller it is, the more secret!
A rear corner of a backyard or an underused narrow side yard can become a secret garden if you define its boundaries in some way. Plant some shrubs to frame an opening or add a fence and gate to denote an entry portal. Make sure it is wide enough to accommodate a wheelbarrow. If a gate is not practical, an entry marker such as an overhead arbor, an upright stone, or a birdbath can signify that this is a special place. I often locate a large planter filled with flowers to silently announce a transition from one area to another.
A sense of seclusion—a private world—is an important aspect of a secret garden. Overhead branches of a tree, a border of tall shrubs, or a tall wall can enhance that sheltered feeling. Within this cozy space, you may add plant beds bursting with greenery, some simple paving, a trickling recirculating fountain, or a small bench as the finishing touches.
And then there are the flowers—secret gardens must have flowers to beguile us. Imagine begonias spilling over in planters, dark-stemmed penstemon in plant beds, or corydalis growing out of an old stone wall. Frances Hodgson Burnett, in the classic 1911 book, The Secret Garden, describes the allure of such a hidden spot: “And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.”
The ferny-leaved yellow corydalis (Corydalis lutea), a short-lived perennial, grows out of a stone wall in a secret garden. It sports pretty, yellow locket-shaped flowers that bloom from late spring through frost. Corydalis self-seeds prolifically and establishes itself in stone walls and gravelly soils in cool conditions. It practically thrives on neglect! It combines well with bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis), and other hardy perennials in a partial shade garden.
An entry of some kind says that a “secret garden” awaits you. This rustic portal is framed by an overhead cross beam, perfect for twining vines such as honeysuckle. Here, the vigorous climbing hydrangea grows over the fence to the right of the gate. Note the group of white-and-green ‘Spring Green’ tulips to the left of the entry. These are viridiflora tulips, named after the Latin for green (viridi). Each petal has a green streak in the center, finishing to an ivory white at the tips. This late-spring blooming tulip holds an RHS Garden of Merit award. This photo was taken at the outstanding public garden, Stonecrop Gardens, in Cold Spring, New York.
Any small area can be made into a secret garden. Here are the “before” and “after” photos of what became a small secret garden space for a dear client of mine. We added some rustic paving stones, low-growing plants, and lovely furniture to make it a sweet spot to sit and enjoy the garden. Now all it needs are some flowers . . .