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An unexplained backyard concealed behind an excessive brick wall, a key stashed away in a forgotten room, and a young, uninterested and inquisitive young woman set the stage for an exciting and engaging story. My preferred childhood novel was Francis Hodgson Burnett’s typical The Classified information Backyard. I consider at the time I was drawn in by the secrecy of the classified information and my fascination with wild, unkempt English gardens. That should describe the state of my personal yard this day!
My mama was an avid member of the local Backyard Club and even involved me in a number of the youth blossom arranging competitions. I consider these actions nurtured in me a love of developing things, as I constantly had blossoms on my windowsill while I was developing up. Nevertheless, I dreamed of the day when I, too, could have a big expanse of backyard to until and plant and watch with delight as the beautiful mass of color burst into living with the warm winds of spring.
Alas, by the time I had such space to get pleasure from, the liabilities of each day living had crept in to filch my time and avoid my pleasure of reckless abandon in the backyard. So, while I love The Classified information Backyard I consider I additionally envy Mary Lennox, who has the time and space to toil continually in the backyard and then to get pleasure from the fruits of her work.
She’s additionally capable to lure her chronically sick cousin Colin out of doors and he discovers the healing power of the backyard. I could relate to that power – there’s no faster way for me to release tension and feel completely calmed than for me to expend several minutes puttering in my backyard. A case of the blues could be cured quite rapidly by several minutes in the sunshine and a newly picked bouquet of blossoms.
There were living lessons to be learned from the story also. Folks aren’t constantly as they first happen; keeping classified information could be harmful to the healing of the soul; and in gardens, as in living, hard work leads to more attraction whereas disregard and laziness eat away at the soul.
As the gardener reminds the kids, “Where you tend a rose, my lad, and a thistle can’t develop.” What an ideal philosophy forever: focus on nurturing the beautiful aspects of your living and there will be small room for the ache.