Photographs from a Secret Garden

These photographs from a secret garden were taken at the University of Pretoria’s Botany Green House.

Sometimes, when you wander around the university campus, you come about some whimsical findings… a hidden glass door, a green carpet, and suspended green passages.

You can enjoy more photographs and stories from the University of Pretoria by at dawn, by visiting its Merensky Library designed like a book, by visiting Kya Rosa, touching the door with a lion, or stepping under a red brick archway.

For the Thursday Doors weekly challenge hosted by Dan Antion – where people from around the world post photos centered around doors.

Remember, you can always travel to South Africa by reading:

Joyful Trouble by Patricia Furstenberg, sneak peek
Joyful Trouble by Patricia Furstenberg

What Sound

“What sound, a tree falling alone
in a forest, no plea for its soul,
nor remembered by the shadows cast,
by rustle of greens, by feathered song?

What sound, the kettle boiling for one,
whose tea cup, chipped, holds an used teabag
its flavors remembered by heart,
by the long strolls, in two, through a forest as dawn?

What touch under fingers holding alone
a chipped cup, the memory of one,
last left behind – in a world where a tree
fell in silence, missed by none?”

(First published online in The Poet Magazine)

13 Replies to “Photographs from a Secret Garden”

  1. Wow. Wonderful, dear Patricia. Happy Thanksgiving Day to you.

  2. I’m pretty much sure that the squirrels miss the fallen tree. 🙂 But my immediate concern is that round window above the door in the secret garden. I wish the garden wasn’t that secret and the round window wasn’t in danger.

    1. Ah, your kindness, Jo. So true, the squirrels will definitely miss the fallen tree.
      The garden is inside the campus of the University of Pretoria, so not “that” secret 😉 But, shhh…

  3. These are wonderful photos, Patricia, and I love your poem – it’s both sad and beautiful. Thanks for sharing some color with those of us who are looking at bare trees. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

  4. What a great discovery! Even though I read in the comments that it isn’t that secret I do hope it doesn’t get overcrowded. Imagine reading a book in it, or just enjoying the sun…

  5. What a lovely thought! But have no fear of overcrowding it – unless the biology students work on a project.
    I suppose you could sit there with a book and study 🙂 because study seems to be the order of the day on campus.

  6. This secret garden at University of Pretoria is beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing, Patricia! The poem is beautifful too!

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