There were small areas inside that sparked every possible ounce of imagination within me, with many different types of stone paths that would wind and branch out in odd directions and without warning lead me off on a new adventure then abruptly stop so that I knew if I would find an awaiting surprise close by, I just had to look carefully.
Sometimes I would find small fountains or little hidden sitting areas with benches or chairs made out of branches or carved logs. Sometimes I would find small mossy concrete statues peeking out from under the greenery or a little abandoned gnome village with colorful tiny houses lovingly chiseled out of stone, sitting where the sunshine was barely able to break through the dense trees and illuminate a secret spot almost by purposeful accident.
Deep in a corner one day I even found a sandy pond with bright orange fish lazily swimming just out of my reach. I would wiggle my toes in the cool water on the hottest summer's days tempting the fish to suck on a toe or two. I feared walking too far into the pond as I easily sank in the soft sandy soil and I just knew that I would never get back out again if the pond sucked me down and the water went above my waist.
But, at the center of the garden was the one place that I spent most of my time that year, in the tree house. A treasure of every boys childhood fantasy, almost completely concealed with forest growth that I had found completely by accident.
High up on the biggest tree inside the nesting of the patch of wonder, hid a tree house appearing so ancient and so at home up there that I swear it must have been inhabited by elves long ago.
The narrow steep staircase twisted all the way around the trunk of the very thick tree, ivy climbed the ropes and short railing all the way to the top to a short landing and coated its bottom and sides to almost conceal it completely.
There was a small door that opened easily, and the inside was big enough for me to stand up tall and along the curved walls sat a bench and table and a cupboard that was just my size.
If I close my eyes and think about it, I can still recall the musty wood smell of that old tree house as I sat eating many of my lunches there and would look out the window admiring my kingdom.
It still brings a smile to my lips, the day I had been discovered playing there and begged my Gamma to not take this secret away, and when she softly told me I could stay.