A Garden Within a Garden

A garden within a garden… 

Catchy isn’t it? Seems to be a popular* theme ;)

Personally speaking, I’m not sure we were prepared for all these gardens. When we first visited this house—was it early April?—our attention was drawn to architecture and a river view. Astonishment over this unexpected change of address, whiplash of plans. Honestly we were too stunned to pay attention and now I find myself laughing at all the things we missed. Especially the gardens. 

The house from the street is oddly invisible. All the times we drove through the neighborhood I hadn’t really seen it. Sprawling front lawn, towering trees, seemingly simple house, tucked back and painted to blend. Green wrapped in green, wrapped in green. 

But the house is hiding a secret, totally unexpected. 

Our oldest granddaughter, Maisy, turned eight the week before our move. We celebrated early with one last sleepover at the lake, and Nana chose a book theme with a creative twist. The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I ordered two copies—an illustrated abridged, to read right away, as well as the classic, to save for someday. Snuggled on the patio swing, the two of us entered the enchanted world of Mary Lennox and her eclectic cast of friends. As the story came to an end, Maisy asked a question. Was the garden magic, Nana? 

“Well… the garden was was a place of healing and friendship. It was beautiful and good, kind of like Eden.”

My granddaughter beamed, exclaiming—Oh, now I get it!! 

A few weeks later Maisy and I spent an afternoon together, at the river house, unpacking a box of birthday treasures. Choosing a perfect little niche of ferns and flowers… 

(four neighbor kids peaking through the fence next door)

…we created our own little “secret” in Nana’s garden. 

But is it really NANA’S garden? That is the question I find myself asking. Is the garden mine? Or does it actually belong to someone prior?

A little plaque hangs by the front door, quietly boasting a property featured in the 2014 Home and Garden Tour. And down by the river, a sizable concrete slab is inscribed: DAVE’S GARDEN. 

We inherited gardens we did not dream, design, plant or deserve. And in all of our interactions with the previous owners, not once did they ask us—

Do you know how to maintain gardens?! 

OH MY GOODNESS!

When we first visited in early spring, the landscape was mostly hiding. We were naive. Unaware of all that awaited us. Secret gardens, indeed. Lavish and plenty. 

At first I was overwhelmed. This is too much. How will I keep up? What if I fail? And it wasn’t just the yard, but this big old house. Two weeks after taking possession, Kyle and I admitted, it doesn’t feel like home. Not yet. It still feels a bit like we’re visitors (or caretakers, actually) at Dave’s and Borgie’s on River Lane.

And yet. As I spend time in the gardens, my soul seems to be settling. One day, one weed at a time, I am soaking it up and enjoying all we’ve been given. The gardens have become my place of prayer. My time to acknowledge awe and whisper wonder. I want to pay attention to what God has given, joining creation in unceasing praise. 

But there’s more. The gardens have also become my own place of healing. My place to meet with my Spirit Counselor. My Gardener Father is pruning me… revealing my weeds… my idols… my broken places… my fears. I confess my sin and my need.

Eden means Delight and gardens are meant to remind us of everything good. These gardens will never be perfect. I could pull weeds every day for the rest of the summer, and there would always be more. And that’s okay. Because beauty doesn’t rely on perfection—in my yard or in my life. It’s the weeds that invite me to come close and explore, getting on my knees, discovering hidden surprises. 

Yesterday Maisy and her next-youngest brother came over to practice the piano at Nana’s house. Before we settled into lessons, Maisy and I decided to share our secret with Nash, who is big enough to be trusted. Kneeling low and gently lifting the leaves of hosta, fern, and astilbe, we commented on the loamy smells wafting from our hiding place. Later, side-by-side on a piano bench, I noticed the fragrance clinging to my grandkids. The garden had come inside with us. 

One of my favorite images in all of Scripture is that of the Vine and the branches. 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1-5 ESV) 

This place and its gardens were utterly unexpected. We did not see ourselves here. It is as if our Gardener Father planted us in this exact place, beside a river, to remind us of what a broken beautiful mess we are… and to woo us again to abide in the perfect love and healing presence of his life-giving Son. To soak in the fragrance of Jesus. 

*"Garden within a garden" was also the theme of the highly exclusive, secret forest setup Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce built inside New York's Madison Square Garden for their July 3, 2026, wedding. I knew nothing of this when planning Maisy's Secret Garden birthday. lol!