Garden sanctuary

The Secret Garden imagined by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

The concept of the Garden Sanctuary follows on from the popular understanding of a therapeutic "Secret Garden" first imagined by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

• "Since reading The Secret Garden as a child, tucked away botanical places have held a special meaning."
• "The thought that one might be self-contained; hidden from the rest of the world; close to others and yet so deliciously alone."

A Secret Garden, or a Garden Sanctuary

A Secret Garden, or a Garden Sanctuary, may be

Secret Garden, Cliveden August 2012

• the power of a private garden to heal therapeutically, first popularized by The Secret Garden, the 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• the practice of Horticultural therapy: 'Gardening makes us feel renewed inside'
• a Therapeutic Garden created as a cure for disease such as:
  • Gardening therapy helps children grow 19 Mar 2012

San Antonio Palace and Secret Gardens

• • The Michelin-starred chef who is gardening to fight cancer 30 Nov 0002
  • Gardening Against the Odds 2013: Butterfly Garden scoops top award 17 Nov 2013
  • Gardening Against the Odds: Overcoming depression with a love of gardening 21 Aug 2012
• Overlying these healing uses is the use of the term My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday in 1973 to open up women's sexual fantasies.

Use a "Secret" Garden

Secret garden arches at the San Antonio Palace and Gardens

In popular culture, a Secret Garden is a small private space where you may experience tranquility, beauty and healing.

• "We all could use a special place in a garden where we can relax, read a book, enjoy a cup of coffee or simply listen to the birds.
• This Secret place can be "a retreat we share with others or use for private contemplation."

For example, the Blue Mountains Secret Garden Cottage advertises a private garden room where you can "nestle in amongst the plants , relax and breathe in the clean fresh air".

• In Sydney, Australia the very successful firm "Secret Gardens" argues that "everybody needs a secret hideaway" and will design and construct such a place for your custom.
• Started 18 years ago by Matthew Cantwell, Secret Gardens now employs over 35 passionate and talented Landscape Architects, Designers, Construction experts and Horticulturists.

Construct a Secret Garden

To convert an existing favourite garden feature into a secret place, you need

1. a garden seat,
2. an over-arching pergola or gazebo, or
3. a planted screen of tall plants and
4. a water feature which brings added tranquility.

The Secret Garden at Blickling

To these, add these "beauty" features:

1. Scent: cover your gazebo or trellis with powerfully perfumed roses
2. Sound: water flowing gently over smooth stones, grasses with rustling leaves or nectar-rich flowers that attract buzzing hoverflies and bees.
3. Beauty: waving grasses or airy flowers to attract butterflies and birds
4. Creature Comforts: keep some soft cushions handy.

Public "Secret Gardens" in Sydney

Wendy Whiteleys Garden, Lavender Bay

Here is a list of Sydney's best secluded gardens!

1. The best-known example is "Wendy's Secret Garden" established by Wendy Whitely on the shores of Sydney's Lavender Bay.

   Other Secret Gardens in Sydney are:

2. The Arthur McElhone Reserve,, a tranquil garden of Elizabeth Bay House
3. The Lisgar Gardens of Hornsby
4. The Paddington Reservoir Gardens opposite the old Paddington Town Hall
5. The Swain Garden at Killara

Public "Secret Gardens" in Melbourne

Not to be out-done, the Melbourne City Council has published a very public guided self-tour of Melbourne's Secret Gardens.

Gumnut Babies, Stirling Gardens, Perth

Here is a more secret list of Secret Gardens in Melbourne!

1. Convent Gardens, such as The Abbotsford Convent (1868)
2. Canterbury Gardens, at 190B Canterbury Road, Canterbury, also via Chaucer Road, Canterbury Vic
3. Heide Edwardian style Garden and Museum of Modern Art, 7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen Vic
4. Federation style Alexandra Gardens, Cotham Road Kew, next to the Kew Library
5. Maranoa Gardens, End of Parring Road, Balwyn Vic

Secret Garden in Perth, WA

Perth’s Secret Garden Wonderland is in the Stirling Park of the City of Stirling WA

• Publicity caused some hate and outrage among Perth people for ‘exposing’ this secret hidden garden
• Head into the wetland down the wider end of the park and there are a bunch of tunnels cut out of the thick tree growth.
  • These tunnels lead you to a beautiful world blanketed in green growth which wouldn't be out of place in an Alice in Wonderland script.

Margaret River's Secret Garden (WA)

Margaret River’s Secret Garden is an idyllic private oasis of flowering gardens, wisteria-draped walkways and sweeping lawns nestled within a peppermint forest, where its beauty enhances as sweeping twilight fades softly into starlight and candlelight sets the table for an exquisite dinner prepared by gourmet chefs, paired with premium wines.

• Margaret River’s Secret Garden, 4072 Caves Road, Wilyabrup WA

A "Secret Garden" in Canberra?

Sure enough, now the ABC finds a 'secret garden' at Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Christ Church, Milton

Public "Secret Gardens" in Brisbane

These are spaces ideal for those ‘serenity now’ moments. With Thanks to MustdoBrisbane.com

1. Christ Church Milton: walk behind Suncorp Stadium to find the historic Christ Church
2. Horace Window Reserve: Down on the riverfront at Corinda is this tiny pocket park
3. Yeronga: a little pocket of grass with views across the river to Indooroopilly Golf Course
4. Alice in Wonderland Park (Newstead)
5. Kayes Rock Park: a historic little terraced park sandwiched between buildings on the waterfront
6. Wilson's Outlook: headspace in the inner city
7. Merthyr Park: on the Brisbane River
8. Teneriffe Park: a gracious park with Federation-style rotundas and city views .
9. Vic Lucas Park near the Bulimba Ferry terminal
10. Northey St City Farm (sort of secret)

Newstead Gardens in 1949