A Secret Garden

Somewhere in the city, this beautiful garden blooms from spring to fall

Story and photography by Nick Martin

If you were walking the lane past a tall wooden fence covered in vigorously growing dense ivy and Virginia creeper vines, you probably would not know that on the other side is a beautiful garden, an enchanting space, designed and landscaped with daylilies, wildflowers, and native plants. This is a secret garden. Few neighbors even know it exists. 

As late winter ends and the sun awakens, the yellow and purple winter crocus blooms appear as the daffodils push their leaves from the warming ground. The bright yellow daffodil trumpets announce that spring is here. As the earth warms, soon purple lilacs will profusely bloom with their fragrant perfume. Bright red, yellow, and purple tulips will appear throughout the garden. These flowers herald the awakening of the earth and the revival of magnificent flower colors parading in a flower garden hidden from view. The secret garden comes alive.

After the tulips bloom, the large round puffy flowers of alliums appear looking like giant purple dandelion puffs. Sweet Williams (Dianthus) with their sweet and spicy scent in a corner near a rosebush and peonies with their large showy flowers blossom in intense red and pinks showcase the “mock orange” shrub. The mock orange gets its name because the snowy white flowers are similar to orange blossoms. 

Creating an informal cottage garden with balance, contrast and harmony takes planning. In this garden, there are more than 60 different species of eye-catching colorful daylilies that bloom early, mid-season, or late season, filling the yard with captivating hues such as velvety wine, peach, reddish purple, orange-gold, yellow, and vibrant orange. Many of these flowers joyfully model their multiple colors, some petals with ruffled or piecrust edges. Growing among the daylilies, are native plants like Black-eyed Susans and coneflowers (Echinacea). The lush growth rewards the gardener and the visitor. Daylilies multiply each year as most are hardy and prolific growers. 

Depending on the season, when opening the garden gate, the visitor is greeted by the blossoming pinkish-red flowers of redbud trees or bearded iris. Red, yellow, blue, purple, and deep purple bearded iris fill the garden with their intense color and fruity or spicey fragrances. Iris are one of the showiest flowers in the spring garden. 

A few thoughts for planning your own secret garden 

•  Before you start, check what USDA zone you are in on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map online. Purchase plants that will grow in that zone. 

•  Create a garden map. Note where the sun shines and shade locations. Some plants grow only in sun. Some grow in sun and shade. Some grow in shade only. 

•  Consider planning your garden to be a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. (nwf.org) 

•  Remember, not all garden plants are pet friendly.

Tiger lilies with black rosettes on each petal, Asiatic lilies, oriental lilies, Turk’s cap lilies, and tree lilies appear in the gardenscape. Some of the tree lilies are seven feet tall. The blooming of these perennial lilies is followed in the summer calendar with the purple buddleia of the butterfly bush, red and purple Crepe Myrtles, and orange umbrellas of the Milkweed also known as “butterfly weed.” Butterflies, especially Monarchs, are attracted to Milkweed because of its color and nectar. How can a butterfly tell there is “butterfly weed” below when flying in the sky? The secret garden hosts plants with diverse blooms and displays brilliant colors throughout spring and summer seasons. It is almost time for late summer Hostas with two-toned foliage to bloom with white or purple flowers. After a clear, calm twilight, dozens of fireflies decorate the evening air. The dew drenched morning followed causing plants to sparkle in the rising sun. 

A red-tailed hawk was spotted in the redbud tree, eyeing the garden as hummingbirds drank from the bright yellow flowers on the trumpet vines. Goldfinches enjoyed eating the seeds from the “4 o’clock plants.” Bluejays, cardinals, and robins are nested in the trees and bushes. The cottontails left their warren and hopped about in this wildlife habitat. At night, an occasional “house cat size” opossum is seen in the garden. These are just a few of the inhabitants of their hidden paradise, this secret flower garden. 

In this flower garden, a habitat for plants, birds, rabbits, squirrels, opossum, and insects (and the occasional garter snake), there are the calming sounds of cascading water falling and a fountain trickling and gurgling. On most sunny days, bees, wasps, and butterflies take a moment for sipping from the three-tiered fountain before hurriedly meandering and pollinating the plants prior to the colors of the sunset appearing. You might find a Basenji, after making a sign of relief, lounging, or sleeping in the sun on the red bench by the fountain.  

This unique, tranquil garden found in our busy city is where the rush of everyday life stops, and a person can pause to relax and reconnect with nature. In a walk through the secret garden, the feeling of calm and an awareness of our environment gives us a sense of our interconnectedness with all living things. 

The fall garden cleanup includes raking, trimming plants, transplanting perennials, and cleaning then storing garden tools. During late fall and the cold winter months, the gardener revisits the garden map, reads garden and seed catalogs, and plans next spring’s additions and updates.  

As the watchful caretaker, the faithful steward fills the bird bath each day during fall and winter in anticipation of the bird’s need for “tipping up.” Although winter strips away the beauty of the garden, the plants and earth need rest. Soon the first signs of spring with longer days and warmer temperatures helps regrow and rejuvenate the plot as the plants come to life.  

From November through mid-March, the bird feeder, filled with millet, black oil sunflower seeds, cracked corn and safflower seeds, is visited daily by wild birds. Soon after, the garden keeper will cultivate new beds and uncover or renew others. 

Although the blossom-filled perennials regrow faithfully each year, which annual plants will flower every year changes. New annual seeds sown in spring, wildflowers planted in fall or spring, and perennial plants transplanted and “new arrivals” from local greenhouses will change the landscape. However, the weather determines the results with the gardener’s help. This delightful, exquisite flower garden is spellbinding and enchanting. So, where is this garden located? That is the secret only its inhabitants know.  

Want to see the garden? 

If you can keep a secret and want to learn more about the garden, contact secretgardeninhagerstown@proton.me. The garden is open by appointment on Friday mornings in April, May, and June.