At the moment I am re-reading the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is probably my second favourite tale of hers, after A Little Princess and starts off in a very similar way. 
Young Mary Lennox is forced to leave India after a cholera epidemic and she goes to stay in Misselthwaite Manor. Mary finds that the Manor has many secrets, the garden being only one of them.
I find the idea of a Secret Garden so enchanting. 
A private place away from the world where one can be alone, or share it only with their loved ones. A walled paradise, each season refreshing the decor. There would be a swing with climbing roses running down the ropes and a little lake with golden fish. 
Great oaks and ashes would grow around its edges with delicate silver birch in between and every flower imaginable, narcissus, lillies, violets would grow wild between the paths. I would love a garden such as this.
The French have a concept, Le Jardin Secret, which I admire. It is a metaphor for one’s private inner sanctuary, where the most secret emotions and dearest memories are kept. It is peaceful place where you can go to be most truly yourself and enjoy your own dreams and fantasies 
I think we all have a place like this, even if there is not a term for it in english, and it is very closely linked to my own idea of what it means to be a Princess and a Lolita. For me, beautiful clothes and songs and stories are the keys to this place where I feel truly at peace with who I am.
Merci Julie, Victoria and Amélie for your help with defining le jardin secret 
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I adore that story.
Have you ever heard anything from the musical of it? I did the costumes for my colleges production of it years ago. It is a wonderfully lush play. Very fitting for the book. The songs are amazing.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Oh, wow, that takes me back. We did a unit on the Secret Garden when I was 6, and I owned Sara Crewe, which was The Little Princess before it was called The Little Princess.
I remember turning a shoebox into my own secret garden. I used fabric and paper and tiny fake flowers. Sadly, I no longer have it. I may just have to make another one.
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:15 am
The Secret Garden and A Little Princess were my favorite stories when I was little. I prefer the Secret Garden now, I even named one of my dolls after Mary. It’s such a beautiful and sweet story.
I agree with you about the concept of Secret Garden and Lolita. The first time I came across it I felt like someone had looked into my mind and turned it into clothing. ^^
January 23rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
How funny; I just reread both The Secret Garden and A Little Princess this past month. They were both favorites for me as a child and they had the same magical quality reading them as an adult. Truly two books every Lolita should read. I had an old key that I carried around with me everywhere when I was young because I was convinced it would open a garden somewhere!
January 24th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I love this movie. I’ve seen it this summer with my grand-parents. It’s a beautiful and moving film.
bises^-^