The Green Gate (gouache style)

A garden gate marks the change from the street or field to somewhere private. Doors set in old brick walls belong to walled gardens and cottage boundaries, and they've long held a sense of mystery: in Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden, published in 1911, the way in is a door hidden by ivy. Painted wooden gates in sage, blue or dark green often set the tone for the planting beyond, and a half-open gate draws the eye through.

Look after a wooden gate in late spring or summer, when the timber is dry: rub down flaking paint, then repaint every few years. Oil the hinges and latch each autumn, and keep the base clear of soil and leaves so it doesn't rot. Moss on old brick is harmless. Trim ivy in late winter, before birds start nesting, since active nests are protected by law. It's worth leaving some ivy to flower, as its autumn blooms feed late insects.

An old green wooden gate sits in a mossy brick wall, with roses and ivy growing around it. The scene is about age and quiet: weathered paint, moss on the bricks and plants left to soften the edges. It's the kind of doorway that makes you wonder what's on the other side.