I had to duck down a little and even then the leaves reached out and touched me as I passed through. I didn't mind, I love how nature feels, emotionally and physically, and the caress of the leaves on my face and neck seemed to connect me to my secret garden from the moment I stepped through.
I took this image
Sounds faded, those of the world I'd left behind me, to be replaced by natures music: Birds, leaves rustling and my own footfalls on the soft damp earth of the path. The air was instantly fresher, moist, richly earthy, and I breathed deeply a few times settling into the moment and I began walking.
I was right where I wanted to be in my secret garden with the birds and trees, running water, flowers, bees and all the green leaves that marked my course as I walked slowly. I felt at home.
I come to my secret garden often. It's a place where I recharge my emotional energy, an opportunity to release the tensions of life and enjoy moments of rejuvenation, nurtured by mother nature. It's not really mine although I wish it was.
I took this image
Whilst I'm being honest, I should probably also say that it's not a secret at all; everyone knows it is here, the city's public gardens, however during the week few come here and so I fantasize that it's a secret place just for me to explore and enjoy and a place where I can reach out to the natural world around me and open myself to its healing properties.
I saw no one, the main reason I stick to the small paths that meander through the gardens rather than the more popular paved paths, and walked for over an hour before making my way to the secret garden cafe. Ok, that's not a secret at all either, but they make good coffee and that makes up for it's lack of secrecy. I always choose a table close to the trees and shrubs, they have them set out so that they form little secluded nooks, which I love.
I took this image
It was there I met my partner for coffee. The poor dear had just been to the dentist so wasn't able to have any coffee or share half of my French pastry, but we cuddled a bit, held hands, and talked about nothing really important. That's the beautiful thing about secret gardens and secret cafes, the real world can be ignored for a while, and that's what we did.
We walked again after, and then back to the car and home.
I felt so nice after my visit to my secret garden, a perfect place to be whilst I waited for my man to finish up at the dentist. I felt good, much better than he did considering what he had done at the dentist, and came home relaxed, refreshed and ready for the rest of the afternoon.
Becca 馃挆
