If you’ve ever read Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic story, The Secret Garden, as a child, you’ve probably wished for a hidden garden getaway of your own. Now that you’re grown, why not create one?
We’re sharing our tips on how to build your garden into a space where you can escape to—with friends and family or all on your own.
Fairy houses
Fairy houses are a fun activity to share with children. Teaching kids to appreciate and engage with nature while they are young will encourage them to protect nature as they get older.
Here’s how to make a fairy house:
- Location, location, location. Use your imagination to look for places in your yard where fairies might settle in. The base of a tree, among gnarled roots, is a great place to start.
- Using all-natural materials like fallen branches, leaves, and moss, start to build the house, incorporating the location into the design.
- Build out elements like porches or stairs as you are inspired. Remember to use natural materials and respect the integrity of the living plants in your yard.
- For an added touch, leave tiny notes near the fairy house for children to find.
Walls, Paths, and Doorways
In Burnett’s story a wall, overgrown with vines, surrounded the garden. You don’t need to build a full-height wall, but you can use a short rock wall or picket fencing to create visual interest and boundaries. Use trellis arches or old doors and allow garden plants to grow up and around it.
Winding paths, paved in your favorite way, add visual interest and let visitors meander through your garden enjoying all the sights.
Paving materials are limited only by your imagination, but here are some ideas to start:
- Mulch
- Stone
- Brick
- Sand
- Mosiac tiles
- Shells
Add a few steps up or down, where appropriate, and consider leaving a space on your path for a bench, especially if the path is long. Bridges—over streams or flowerbeds—are another fun piece to consider.
Where the wild things are
Nurture a sense of wonder in your garden by introducing visitors to the local wildlife. Feeders and baths, along with colorful, pleasantly scented flowers, provide visitors with a glimpse of birds they may not see every day. Some gardeners enjoy a small pool filled with goldfish—or a pond for frogs, for the more ambitious among us.
Hiding places
No garden adventure is complete without a place to hide. This can be as simple as the space between your house and a hedge of bushes, or as intricate as a tree house or garden teepee. The important part is that it has a secret element—something special you need to know in order to enter:
- A trap door
- A entrance behind a bush that doesn’t quite touch the wall
- A door with a rope latch.
- A window from which to peek out at the rest of the world.
- A mailbox to pickup and leave secret messages
- A plain-looking tunnel of bushes that opens up to a seating area with lanterns
- A way to call home. Remember tin-can phones? Walkie talkies?
With the right balance of structure and whimsy, incorporating these elements as they suit your space, your garden will be a lasting source of delight, full of adventure for generations to come.
First up and with the least amount of effort required is the corrugated metal fire pit. By using a metal bucket or even the old bucket metal liner to a washing machine, you can get a small fire going in no time! Often you can dig up a busted washer at your local dump station or keeping an ear to the ground for those getting rid of one. Once you have obtained your bucket and are ready to add it to your yard- think about taking a can of fireproof spray paint to the metal to add a pop of color and personality. Be sure to place a cinderblock under the bucket to safe guard your deck or patio from the heat.
If you want to put a little more effort into building your pit you can gather several cinderblocks (or buy them for very cheap at your local home and garden center) and stack them to your desired height and circumference- this is directly related to how large a fire you typically plan to have so coordinate accordingly. You can also paint the blocks to a desired color with a fire resistant paint if you are so inclined to add some interested to your project. Be sure before you begin stacking that you are starting with level ground.
Depending on the material used to create the chime-
Lastly, chimes can serve all kinds of functions. Take the 

Transforming your outdoors into livable space is becoming increasingly popular. Your patio, deck and yard can also be utilized in much the same way that your living room is used for relaxing and unwinding. If you would like to spend more time al fresco but are not sure where to begin, we have a few suggestions to get your area ready for reclining.
Seating selection is another favorite and is key to bringing the comforts of home to your green space. A look around your neighborhood gardening center will reveal the limitless possibilities for seating; goodbye to those hard plastic chairs-the industry has come far in offering couches, sofas, chaises and more that are of indoor furniture quality. This is a great place to let your personal taste shine by choosing the textiles, colors and patterns that speak to you. Want a great seating idea on the cheap? String up a hammock for the ultimate in relaxation. Don’t forget to add pillows and throw blankets for comfort and warmth on those chilly nights.
To truly complete your canvas accessorizing is an important finishing touch. Candles, lighting and yard art are a great start, but we 



