Gallery

The entrance, an arched footbridge graced with naturally growing grapevines, is your first magical step into an array of beautiful greenery and flowers, berries and birds. Below the bridge, cheery little cascades of water tumble into a storybook sized pond.

Immediately to the right, as Secret Garden strollers have discovered, is the homestead of the Secret Garden elves. Wise beyond their hundreds of years, they've installed a small mailbox for questions from young visitors. Perfect elfin answers are placed back into the mailbox within 24 hours and the question writers delight in the responses.

Down the hill and around the bend, a wishing well awaits. A garden bench and a birdbath featuring a peaceful water glissando dot the hosta bed across the path. By day, the quiet solitude of the 'garden within a garden' is just what the doctor ordered; by night, the romance of moon and stars framed by softly glowing solar wildbird feeders might inspire even the most reluctant suitor.

Up the next rise, all eyes are alert for hidden faces on the big trees. Some are reminded of the talking trees in the Wizard of Oz, but all are delighted with each one they spot.

Fruits of the spirit may not be quite the same as fruits of nature, but the Berry Patch at the left as the rise ends is certainly food for the soul. Stepping under the delicately formed metal vined archway, the Berry Patch hides a tricky Peter Rabbit, always hungry for more. Whether it's the elderberries, raspberries, blackberries, plums or blueberries, the bushes are busy building up their fruit-making for curious snackers, as well as hungry deer and rabbits.

Beyond the berries, the woods opens up to ... birds! A plethora of birdhouses, round and rectangle, posh and plain, hang from branches and stand proudly on posts. Feeders draw in feathered visitors who only want a meal, but have their nest elsewhere. Tweeters and long songsters share the stage, making the "For the Birds" area one of the Secret Garden favorites.

Turning back toward the gurgle of the pond and the climbing grapevines, the path passes by the first tree to fall under Paul Bunyan's famous axe, or so the story goes! Little visitors, and big ones too, can't help but crouch down and count the rings of the remaining stump.

Nearing the bridge, a terraced herb garden catches the senses. One last delicious sensation, and the next step is up on the bridge, softly padding across its magical arch, cool shade of grapevines above, tinkling water below ... leaving behind the magic of the Secret Garden and stepping back into the real world of your great vacation at Black Pine Beach Resort.

Remember, the Secret Garden is always there, waiting for your next visit ... an hour from now, tomorrow or next year.