Chapter 3

There was no sound as the door swung inward. I wondered how that could be, these vines did not seem disturbed in years. As I stood contemplating the open portal, delicate wisps of  night-blooming petunias reached my nose drawing me in. I stepped through the doorway onto an overgrown path, closing the door behind me , I ventured into my discovery.
Moonlight bathed a scene of wild beauty before me. It appeared to be a huge, victorian  garden. I could see that as the fresh new life of spring progressed into summer, this garden would be a jungle of overgrown plant life. I began to walk gingerly around the soft new sprouts recently emerging from the dark soil. In front of me a low stone wall surrounded a cherub, ivy vines entwining its dancing limbs,  a conch shell held gaily in its pudgy hands. The wall stones were smooth, an old pool, now dry, choked with grass, dandelions, ivy and other assorted weeds. I ran my hands over the stone, invisioning its once beauty. I seemed to be in a rectangular courtyard, the outer wall mimicking the pools shape. Running down either side, away from me were rows of dogwoods, their pale blooms reflecting the moon light, glowing. I walked slowly down one side, seeing different species of roses, their cllinging vines just begining to bud green, were adorning lataces throughout the court yard. Darkness bathed the lower end of the path as I moved forward an arche appeared,as I drew closer I caught my breath as I gazed at cascades of blooming lilacs. I stepped under their branches, the heady fragrance wafting over me. I pressed my face into a huge bloom , like drooping  clusters  of grapes.
The edge of one side was the old stone wall, all along its base were emerging life. I recognized more daffodils, hyacynth, unfurling leaves of hostas. Further down were fading  bleeding hearts, their glory passing. I then realized I heard the soft singing of crickets, their constant song was soothing, steady. I wandered ahead and thought I had come to another wall, as I got closer I realized it was a hedge. The path wrapped around the side, watching my step, I came to another hedge. The path continued around another corner, following it, I realized I was entering a maze. Its sides were high, no way I could see over them. I paused there, contemplating the decision to go in.  Then I felt a soft breeze against my back, like a hand giving me a gentle push forward..I went ..