Throughout this year, 2022, I got back into reading like I haven’t done since middle school (2013). There was a specific book I had been wanting to read since I was a child – and which I had tried to read multiple times but just couldn’t get into: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, originally published in 1911.
The book definitely has its problems, being from 1911, (covert colonization, racism as a default, able-ism, etc.). However, the story, character development, delicious meals, and scenic descriptions really made me love the book. I even started gardening around my house to feel the “magic!”
One of my favorite things to take note of and learn while reading was the wild variety of flowers within the gardens, on the moor, and around the world (mentioned when the characters talked of or visited other countries). I started saving them on different tabs around the second chapter, and after finishing, I was so pleased with my list that I wanted to make something with it. I created this project, thinking of it as a sort of book report, because even when I Googled the list to confirm my findings, other blogs only mentioned a handful of the flowers. I couldn’t know all this information unless I read the book! (And yes, the book is better than both of the movies I’ve seen.)
My Goal
I want to make an illustrated poster with as many of the flowers mentioned in The Secret Garden as I can fit, or as I like.
Week 1, Oct. 18: Gathering Information
I’m going to list the flowers with how they were named in the book, their scientific names, and with one reference picture for when I choose which to draw.
| In Book | Scientific Name | Photo |
| Gold gorse blossoms | Ulex |  |
| Blossoms of the broom | Cytisus scoparius |  |
| Heather flowers | Calluna |  |
| Crocuses | Crocus |  |
| Gold crocus | Crocus |  |
| Snowdrops | Galanthus |  |
| Daffydowndilly | Narcissus |  |
| Daffodil | Narcissus | |
| Narcissus | Narcissus |  |
| Rose trees | Rosa |  |
| Rose bush | Rosa |  |
| Jonquil | Narcissus jonquilla |  |
| Lilies | Lilium |  |
| Purple flags flower | Patersonia sericea |  |
| Laurel hedge | Prunus laurocerasus |  |
| White poppy | Papaver somniferum or Argemone albiflora |  |
| Blue larkspur | Delphinium parryi |  |
| Mignonette plant | Reseda odorata | Unavailable |
| Holly bush | Ilex |  |
| Lily of the valley | Convallaria majalis |  |
| Canterbury bells | Campanula medium | Unavailable |
| Campanulas | Campanula persicifolia |  |
| Broom flowers | Cytisus scoparius |  |
| Apple tree | Malus domestica |  |
| Apple blossoms | Malus |  |
| Cherry blossoms | Prunus serrulata |  |
| Peach tree | Prunus persica |  |
| Plum tree | Prunus domestica |  |
| Iris flower | Iris |  |
| Delphinium | Delphinium elatum |  |
| Larkspur | Delphinium |  |
| Primrose | Primula vulgaris |  |
| Snapdragon flower | Antirrhinum majus |  |
| Columbine flower | Aquilegia |  |
| Lilac bush | Syringa vulgaris |  |
| Rhododendron | Rhododendron |  |
| Pansies | Viola tricolor var. hortensis |  |
| Moorland foxglove | Digitalis purpurea |  |
| Rock cress | Arabis caucasica |  |
| Blue gentians | Gentiana acaulis |  |
| Blue forget-me-nots | Myosotis scorpioides |  |
Week 2, Oct. 25: Formatting and planning.
To keep my workload light this week, I’m going to choose the flowers I want to do, and draft some poster compositions. If I have time, I will also choose a color palette or create some sort of mood-board to direct my poster towards.
Week 3: Drawing
…
Week 4: Continue Drawing
…
Week 5: Critiques and Refinements
…
Week 6: Final Piece
…
All images are licensed from Adobe Stock.
Stay tuned, and thank you for reading!