During the winter semester of 2023, Belle Frahm and Charlotte Westover found themselves assigned as dramaturgs for the upcoming fall 2023 production of “The Secret Garden.” Seeking a deeper connection with the musical’s themes, they stumbled upon an open space of land behind the West Campus Central Building and began to envision the creation of their own secret garden. What began as a simple idea soon became a profound reality that not only connected them to the show but also fostered a sense of community, belonging, and spirituality among their fellow students at West Campus.
Frahm and Westover approached their theater and media arts (TMA) professor, Shelley Graham, with the idea of building a garden as a way to help the cast feel more at home in their new environment. The relocation of theater students to West Campus following the demolition of the Harris Fine Arts Center had left them feeling somewhat disconnected from the main campus. West Campus, situated in the former Provo High School, required a 10- to 20-minute walk to reach the main campus. Frahm recalled the petitions, complaints, and humorously deprecating comments highlighting this disconnect but believed that creating a secret garden could serve as a unifying space for the West Campus community.
After numerous meetings, grant proposals, and persistent efforts to gain approval, the dramaturgs finally received permission to bring their garden vision to life. Frahm and Graham enlisted the help of BYU landscape design student Spencer Broburg to develop plans for the garden. With days filled with planning, planting, weeding, and soil preparation, they transformed an empty space on West Campus into a picturesque garden, complete with a tulip tree, a welcoming bench, a winding path, and lovely floral displays.
Although the students’ residence at West Campus was temporary, the process of building the garden and infusing beauty into an otherwise vacant space helped turn it into a true home. Graham likened the experience to a concept mentioned in “The Secret Garden,” where the word “wick” signifies the presence of life and growth beneath a seemingly rough exterior. Despite the challenges they faced, the students discovered the resilience and vitality within themselves and their surroundings.
The journey to create the garden was not without its obstacles. A long, frigid winter with snow lingering into March delayed planting significantly. Water scarcity due to Utah droughts also posed a challenge, limiting the supply of water available to sustain the garden. Funding for irrigation was also restricted. However, the students persevered, buoyed by their faith and determination.
Frahm actively recruited assistance from the TMA department, bringing together a diverse group of individuals, including cast and crew members, prior students, current TMA students, professors, and members of the local community. The garden became a place of unity and connection, where people who had never spoken before worked side by side, forging new friendships.
For Westover, working on the garden became a spiritual journey that deepened her understanding of her divine identity and her connection with her Heavenly Father. The project required faith, and the students came together to rely on their faith in God. Westover emphasized the recognition that “we as a people are children of God” and noted that this realization and connection would remain cherished because of their project.
The secret garden is intended for all West Campus students, serving as a symbol of unity and connection among the BYU community. Frahm and Westover envision the garden as a shared space that transcends the physical separation from buildings and classrooms. It represents a deeper connection to the earth and, by extension, to one another. As Frahm aptly put it, “The more that we cultivate it, appreciate it, and spend time in nature, the more we will do the same with each other.”
