Back to the Secret Garden

The narrative unfolds in 1946, just after World War II, a period of rebuilding and hope. The post-war setting frames the exchange program and the return of life to the garden, emphasizing renewal and cross-cultural connection. Time here underscores both personal growth and the restoration of a community space.

Misselthwaite Manor and its renowned Secret Garden are central to the story, set within an environment that blends English aristocratic life with a long-held horticultural legacy. The orphans live and learn within the manor, and the garden becomes a communal space where care, curiosity, and play are revived. An American orphanage is also involved through an exchange program, linking two places and cultures through a shared love of renewal.

🌱 Renewal

The garden’s revival mirrors the restoration of trust and happiness among the children. Lizzie’s persistence and the collective care of the orphans breathe new life into a space long neglected. Renewal links the physical garden to emotional healing and shared memory.

🤝 Belonging

Lizzie and the orphans create a makeshift family, showing that belonging can thrive beyond bloodlines and borders. The garden serves as a shared sanctuary where friendships form and communal responsibility grows. Their decision to keep the garden open reinforces a sense of communal ownership.

🧭 Guidance

Lizzie steps into a leadership role, guiding the children through rules, secrets, and conflicts toward a common goal. The garden’s fate becomes a measure of her resolve and the group’s collaboration. The narrative emphasizes agency, courage, and collective action.

💔 Conflict

Jealousy and mischief drive Geraldine and Steven to challenge Lizzie, creating friction within the group. These tensions reveal character flaws but also catalyze the garden’s eventual revival through truth and reconciliation. Resolution comes as honesty replaces deception.