Traditional Home
Last year I shared my longing for a secret garden. Before you admire the photo above and wish mine looked like that, know that picture isn’t mine. Below you’ll see how my own garden looked last year before I planted much. Mine is still a work in progress — as are so many projects around my house. If only it looked like that photo!
Still, I made some progress last year: I planted vines, roses and hydrangeas. I haven’t done much this spring beyond pulling weeds, but I was delighted to see everything I planted return this year. Nothing died — a happy surprise.
My grandmother had a beautiful garden. Even though she lived in a nearly below-ground apartment, she created a thriving, hilly corner flower bed that brightened the view from the parking lot. It was a space most people would have thought impossible to plant in, yet she made it flourish for years. Perhaps that’s where my desire for a garden began.
My secret garden plans
I once lived in a 1920s house with established cottage flowers. Each year I cut roses and other blooms from the garden and felt grateful to the person who had planted them long before. She probably never imagined future residents would enjoy her work, but it was a generous gift that kept giving.
My current yard was a typical, uninspired suburban lot when we moved in. If I want charm and color, it’s up to me to create it.
So I picture a small, productive secret garden filled with flowers to cut and enjoy. Although my space is tiny and my time limited, I dream of a charming spot to stop and smell the roses — a place cozy enough to invite a friend for tea. It may take years to get it right, but if we stay here long-term, designing and tending the garden will be a satisfying, seasonal hobby. As with decorating a home, gardening is a slow process. And if we move before it’s finished, the next homeowner will have a head start.
I came across this charming secret cottage garden on Traditional Home and couldn’t resist sharing it. The little garden house is delightful — what joy it would be to potter about in that shed. I hope these images inspire your own plans for a cozy garden retreat.
PS. I mentioned I was going to plant my first vegetable garden — and I did. We had our first taste of homegrown lettuce, and it was delicious on our burgers. The lettuce is growing in whiskey barrels, and I’ll share more updates on both the vegetable patch and the secret garden as they progress.
Are you planting or tending flower or vegetable gardens this year?