“If you have a garden and a library,
you have everything you need.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Two things cannot be in one place.
Where you tend a rose, my lad,
a thistle cannot grow.”
Frances Hodgson Burnett, “The Secret Garden”
Courtesy of SchnurpselsBacke, the Soundtrack Suite from The Secret Garden (1993) by Zbigniew Preisner:
The Secret Garden
Frances Hodgson Burnett
24th November 1849 – 29th October 1924
Courtesy of 8SA – Books, Biographies and Literature:
Frances Hodgson (later Burnett) emigrated with her family from Manchester, England, to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1865, when she was sixteen years old. She soon embarked on a writing career that would make her one of the most successful authors of the era and beyond. Her fame rests not on many plays and novels she wrote but on her three books intended for children but loved by readers of any age. The three books were: Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess, and The Secret Garden. As an author, she had a great gift for vivid characterisation of both virtue and villainy, the atmospheric dramatisation of fairy-tale-like reversals of fortune, a feel for the emotional pull of a sharply defined narrative, and the important, happy ending. She was a storyteller whose creations were loved by the movie makers. All her books have been adapted several times for the screen.
Suite from “The Victorian Kitchen Garden” by Paul Reade, I. Prelude. Andante pastorale, performed by Michael Collins (clarinet) and Michael McHale (piano):
The Secret Garden story begins in India, with a sickly, plain, moody Mary Lennox. She is unloved by her beautiful mother. Mary has been raised by servants who had done nothing but indulged the child in order to appease her petulance. Orphaned by cholera, she is shipped off to England to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, an equally ill-tempered person whose slight hunchback symbolises his broken heart, embittered by his profound mourning for his wife, who died in an accident. Craven’s home, Misselthwaite Manor, is also an emblem of a closed and inhospitable existence: “The manor is six hundred years old,” Mrs. Medlock, the head of the household staff, tells Mary, “and there’s near a hundred rooms in it, though most of them’s shut up and locked.”
Soon after arriving on the estate, Mary stumbles upon a walled garden that’s been locked and abandoned since the death of Mrs. Craven. Unbeknownst to anyone, Mr. Craven has buried the key; Mary, guided by a helpful robin, unearths it and surreptitiously rejuvenates the dormant plot, creating – with the help of her maid Martha and Martha’s resourceful young brother Dickon – an oasis in the midst of Misselthwaite’s detached atmosphere that would not only nurture Mary’s emotional flowering but restore the health of her invalid cousin and rouse her uncle from his profound grief.
Courtesy of Gardman:
The story is full of metaphors and a heartwarming faith in the magic of nature and friendship. This extraordinary tale of perseverance, restoration, and redemption, influenced my life like no other book or person has ever done. The Secret Garden has been adapted many times as a play, musical, and movie. The Broadway 1991 production was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning two. The best film version is one directed by Agnieszka Holland.
Courtesy of Classical Girl Child Stars:
In 1936, Frances Hodgson Burnett was paid tribute by the installation of a memorial fountain in Central Park’s Conservatory Garden. In the middle of a reflecting pool, a reclining Dickon plays the flute for Mary, who holds a bowl that serves as a birdbath:
Courtesy of quoteny:
I cannot recommend reading The Secret Garden strongly enough.
This is only visual proof of how profoundly this book influenced my life, the message about Magic of Nature is engraved upon my heart and in my soul.
Here is an extract from The Secret Garden:
“And the roses – the roses! Rising out of the grass, tangled round the sundial, wreathing the tree trunks, and hanging from their branches, climbing up the walls and spreading over them with long garlands falling in cascades – they came alive day by day, hour by hour. Fair fresh leaves, and buds – and buds – tiny at first, but swelling and working Magic until they burst and uncurled into cups of scent delicately spilling themselves over their brims and filling the garden air.”
“And this was not the half of the Magic. The fact that he had really once stood on his feet had set Colin thinking tremendously, and when Mary told him of the spell she had worked, he was excited and approved of it greatly. He talked of it constantly.
“Of course, there must be lots of Magic in the world,” he said wisely one day, “but people don’t know what it is like or how to make it. Perhaps the beginning is just to say nice things are going to happen until you make them happen, I am going to try and experiment. When I grow up I am going to make great scientific discoveries and I am going to begin now with this experiment. The great scientific discoveries I am going to make,” he went on, “will be about magic. Magic is a great thing, and scarcely anyone knows anything about it except a few people in the old books – Mary a little because she was born in India, where there are fakirs. I believe Dickon knows some Magic, but perhaps he doesn’t know he knows it. He charms animals and people. I would never have let him come to see me if he had not been an animal-charmer – which is boy-charmer too, because a boy is an animal. I am sure there is magic in everything, only we have not sense enough to get hold of it and make it do things for us – like electricity, and horses, and steam.”
“When Mary found this garden it looked quite dead, then something began pushing things up out of the soil and making things out of nothing. One day things weren’t there and another they were. I have never watched things before, and it made me feel curious. Scientific people are always curious, and I am going to be scientific. I keep saying to myself: “What is it? What is it?” It is something. It can’t be nothing! I don’t know its name, so I call it Magic. I have never seen the sun rise, but Mary and Dickon have, and from what they tell me I am sure that it is Magic too. Something pushes it up and draws it. Sometimes since I have been in the garden I’ve looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something were pushing and drawing in my chest and making me breathe fast.”
“Everything is made of Magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden all around us. In this garden – in all places. The Magic in this garden has made me stand up and I know I am going to live to be a man. I am going to make the scientific experiment of trying to get some and put it in myself and make it push and draw me strong. I don’t know how to do it, but I think that if you think keep thinking about it and calling it perhaps it will come. When I was going to try to stand up that first time Mary kept saying to herself as fast as she could, “You can do it! You can do it! and I did. Every morning and evening and as often in the daytime, I am going to say “Magic is in me! Magic is making me well! And you must all do it, too. This is my experiment.”
“Winter Light” by Linda Ronstadt (courtesy of Mr.Oldies):
naturetails 
If you have a garden and a library,
you have everything you need.”
Absolutely 💯 percent agree 👍
Life is full with nature and knowledge.
Garden is nature and Library is knowledge.
Awesome 👏
It’s a great post.
Will read mindfully.
Best regards Joanna.
Arun 🙏
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Awesome videos
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Thank you, Arun, for your kind comment, which is much appreciated.
Joanna
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Wonderful, my favorite books too. I loved Little Lord Fauntleroy. All of them. The movies for all of these movies have been great too. Thanks for making me smile. Only I wonder how France knew so much about India…
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Thank you, Monica, for your wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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What a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to a story that has clearly taken root in your soul, Joanna. Reading your words, one doesn’t just see a book review, but a testimony to a lifelong relationship with a piece of art that has shaped your very perspective on the world.
The way you’ve woven together the history of the author, the profound themes of the story, the musical accompaniment, and the physical memorial in Central Park creates a rich tapestry that mirrors the depth of the book itself. It’s clear that The Secret Garden is more than a story to you; it is a philosophy, a source of comfort, and a guide to seeing the magic inherent in the world.
Your choice of extracts is perfect, especially Colin’s magnificent monologue about Magic. You’ve highlighted the very core of the book’s message: that magic isn’t a supernatural force from a fantasy land, but the active, persistent power of life, hope, and positive intention. It’s the “something” that pushes the green shoots through the soil and, in turn, pushes us to stand up and breathe fast with a strange feeling of happiness. To have internalized this not as a charming fictional concept, but as a tangible truth for your own life, is a truly wonderful thing.
Thank you for sharing this visual proof of how the story lives within you. The message of the “Magic of Nature” isn’t just engraved on your heart; through your passionate words, you have become a gardener yourself, planting seeds of its beauty and wisdom in the hearts of others. Your comment is a testament to the enduring power of a great story and a life lived in tune with its magic. It’s a profound and moving recommendation, and I have no doubt it will send new readers to discover the overgrown path and the hidden key for themselves.
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“If you have a garden and a library,
you have everything you need.”
How true!! Well quote, Joanna!
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Thank you so much, dear Narasimhan, for your beyond-wonderful comments, which I love! You are absolutely right that this book shaped my love of nature and inspired my garden, which you could see in the two photos. I also travelled to the Yorkshire moors from Dickon’s story, and could see how beautiful the vast open space is, where only grasses and wildlife thrive. Thank you again for your kind, unforgettable words, which are much appreciated!
Joanna
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Thank you, Indira, for your kind comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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Somehow I missed out on these delightful stories as a child. I would have enjoyed them. Of course I was aware of The Secret Garden but didn’t see the film, so I very much enjoyed your comprehensive post with the wonderful videos/pictures and music. What a delight! Thank you once again Joanna.
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The love and magic of gardens has spilled over into your life too, Joanna.🌹🌹🌹
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Thank you, Carolyn, for your wonderful comments, which are very much appreciated!
Joanna
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Thank you so much, Pat, for your thoughtful comments, which I love!
Joanna
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You are always welcome.
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Very welcome, Joanna.
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Thank you, Arun!
Joanna
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Thank you, Pat!
Joanna
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I think this author realized what it is to be a child. A vivid imagination is a must as is a sense of adventure. We often lose this as we become more mature. We do have to grow old, but we do not have to grow up. Have a great day Joanna. Allan
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You are absolutely right, Allan! As Ben Wild wrote:
“Seek the wisdom of age, but look at the world through the eyes of a child.”
Thank you, Allan, for your perceptive comments, which I love!
Joanna
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What a wonderful post on Francis, Joanna. She had a gift and truly made and impact and an impression by her perseverance and love of nature. Your choice of photos, music and stories truly were inspiring, Joanna! xx
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Thank you, Cindy, for the wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna xx
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I’ve made a note to myself to read something by her. I never have!
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I think some authors are able to reach out from the written page and touch a reader’s heart. It seems that this author did so with you. Thank you for a wonderful post.
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It’s always my pleasure, Joanna! xo
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Thank you, Cindy, for being kind!
Joanna xx
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Thank you, Neil, for the wonderful comments, which I love! The Secret Garden is the best!
Joanna
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Thank you, Diane, for the wonderfully perceptive comments, which are much appreciated!
Joanna
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Dear Joanna,🙏
Reading your entire essay felt like walking slowly through the winding paths of The Secret Garden passing through gentle landscapes of memory, nature, literature, and inner awakening. The love, detail, and emotional honesty with which you have presented Frances Hodgson Burnett’s world is truly remarkable.
The way you weave together story, music, history, and personal reflection, four distinct notes into a single harmonious melody speaks of an artist’s vision and a seeker’s sensitivity.
Your essay reminds us that The Secret Garden is not merely a children’s tale, but a timeless journey of restoration, compassion, spiritual renewal, and the discovery of the “magic” that quietly waits within us. The tenderness with which you connect the inner growth of Mary, Colin, and Dickon with the healing language of nature is absolutely captivating and deeply inspiring.
You present nature not as a backdrop, but as a living healer.
The revival of the garden, the emotional transformation of its characters, and your own personal reflections flow beautifully in one continuous stream.
There is an honest radiance in your prose neither burdened by intellectual weight, nor coloured by self-importance. It carries the same gentle wonder as the magic Colin speaks of:
“Magic must be everywhere… we only need a little wisdom to see it.”
Your chosen quotations, musical references, historical insights, and emotional observations make this piece not only informative, but profoundly intimate.
Reading this essay was a nourishing experience for me like sitting quietly in an old, lovingly tended garden, where the soul can rest for a moment.
Thank you for creating this beautiful space of reflection, grace, and quiet magic.
Warm regards,
Vijay
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Thank you so much, dear Vijay, for your wonderfully perceptive analysis of my review of the book that shaped my life, and my own garden, and my profound love of nature, “The Secret Garden”. You are absolutely right that this is a complex book that most people should read, as it would help to save the only planet we have from destruction. Thank you again, dear Vijay, your words are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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This post on The Secret Garden, the timeless children’s novella by Frances Hodgson Burnett, truly reflects your personality, Joanna. The opening line by Cicero-“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need”- fits you perfectly. With both a flourishing garden and an enriching library, you are indeed one of the richest people in spirit. No wonder this book has touched you so deeply. Nature heals, books nourish, and together they bring magic into our lives.
This novella has become a beloved classic for the emotional comfort and inspiration it offers. One of its greatest strengths is the beautiful transformation of its protagonist from a spoiled, withdrawn child to a warm, affectionate one. It’s also heartening to remember that the story carries an Indian connection.
The Secret Garden follows Mary Lennox, a neglected and unloved girl who, after losing her parents in India, is sent to live with her reclusive uncle in England. There, she discovers a hidden, long-abandoned garden and decides to revive it. As she tends the garden with her new friend Dickon and her ailing cousin Colin, both she and Colin undergo remarkable physical and emotional healing.
The book contains a line I deeply cherish: “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” What a beautiful thought, Joanna- one I will never forget. This inspiring book deserves to be read by everyone, for it has touched the hearts of millions.
Thank you so much, Joanna, for this delightful and captivating post, enriched with perfect images, audio, and lovely videos. Greatly appreciated!
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Thank you so much, Kaushal, for the wonderfully beautiful comments, which I love, as they resonate with my beliefs! Every word of your appraisal moved me and is deeply appreciated! I love the book which inspired my love of nature, and my garden, so much so that I visited the Yorkshire moors to see for myself what Dickon loved, and indeed, the vast expanses of grasses, the wildlife and the sky merging with the ground in the distant horizon are truly magical.
Joanna
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Joanna,this was a quite an absorbing essay on the life & work of famous writer :Frances Hodgson Burnett whose fame rests not on many plays and novels she wrote but on her three books intended for children but loved by readers of any age,namely: Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess, and The Secret Garden. As an author, she had a great gift for vivid characterisation of both virtue and villainy,the atmospheric dramatisation of fairy-tale-like reversals of fortune, a feel for the emotional pull of a sharply defined narrative, and the important, happy ending. She was a storyteller whose creations were loved by the movie makers. All her books have been adapted. . In 1936, Frances Hodgson Burnett was paid tribute by the installation of a memorial fountain in Central Park’s Conservatory Garden. In the middle of a reflecting pool, a reclining Dickon plays the flute for Mary, who holds a bowl that serves as a birdbath.Thanks for sharing😊
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Thank you so much, Dhirendra, for your wonderful comments, which are very much appreciated! You have got the point of the story perfectly, and I am grateful for your time reading my post!
Joanna
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Its always my pleasure going through your posts full of precious knowledge, Joanna !Namaste
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Thank you, Dhirendra, for being so kind! Namaste.
Joanna
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🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
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It’s truly my pleasure, Joanna, to read your beautifully crafted posts. You’re always welcome. I’m delighted to know you visited the garden yourself. I’m sure the experience must have felt divine.
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Thank you, Kaushal, for your beautiful comments!
Joanna
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It is a beautiful text, full of admiration for The Secret Garden and the work of Frances Hodgson Burnett. It combines history, quotes, and personal memories to show how a book can have a profound impact on someone’s life. The description of the garden, its magic, and the characters conveys that sense of inner transformation that nature and friendship can awaken. It is a warm, nostalgic, and very inspiring read.
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Thank you, Lincol, for the wonderful comments, which are greatly appreciated!
Joanna
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With pleasure, Joanna. I’m glad to know my comments bring you something positive. Thank you for sharing so much!
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Thank you, Lincol, and you are more than welcome!
Joanna
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