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A babbling garden stream, from Better Homes and Gardens.
Since I was about 12 years old, I’ve read Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden every spring. At the time, we were living in Saudi Arabia, where there was no spring or autumn. All we had was a blazing hot, dry summer, and then a winter that was a little cooler with a handful of rainy days. The desert would bloom suddenly after a rainfall, but the flowers would fade soon after. Reading this book gave me a tantalizing description of how the seasons change. The transformation from dead, grey and brown twigs to a lush floral paradise had me eagerly anticipating the actual springtime outside my door.
Now living in the middle of Toronto, one of the largest cities in North America, I yearn for my own private oasis. Right now I can see a pale green mist enveloping the tree branches as the leaves start to emerge, and gardens are full of bright, happy spring flowers. Unfortunately, living in a small apartment doesn’t make it possible, but here are images that inspire me to have my own garden sometime in the future.
I like to imagine the garden as semi-landscaped, semi-overgrown, with seating areas, an arbour, a pond or fountain, twisty root formations, natural rock formations, and woody vines.
From the Etsy store EmilyMcDowellDraws
A lovely rustic pathway…from Better Homes and Gardens.
Summer-Show Cottage Garden from Better Homes and Gardens
Here is a lovely seating area amid a wall of greenery. I love the greenery poking between the flagstones. From Better Homes and Gardens.
A beautiful but functional garden shed. From Better Homes and Gardens.