Hi Friends,

Congratulations on making it through a long and cold winter!  Although March started off with a dusting of snow and brisk temperatures, Spring is officially here and we couldn’t be more excited. Spring is often seen as a time of growth, renewal, and new life and that is what we hope to emulate and embrace at the Secret Garden this season.  We’re introducing two new teas (see below) as well as bringing back our Spring Blend, one of our most popular seasonal teas.  We’re also very excited to introduce our new Canape Menu, which is designed to perfectly complement either intimate or grand gatherings. We hope to see you all in the Secret Garden soon, and may the Spring bring you happiness and sunshine!

New at the Tea Room

Throughout the winter, customers have been asking for our Spring Blend Tea and now we can happily say it is back! A beautiful blend of Raspberry, Vanilla and Rose Petals.

As a customer of the Secret Garden, you are most likely familiar with our bestselling Creamy Earl Grey tea. This blend of Earl Grey and Creamy Vanilla Tea has garnered a cult following over the years, and we are now excited to offer it made from organically grown ingredients. Come pick up a package of our Organic Creamy Earl Grey today!

Easter will be here before you know it, and we’re offering a wonderful tea to celebrate the occasion. Chocolate Bunny Tea is a delicious blend of fragrant orange tea and rich chocolate. Excellent with milk and sugar.

Secret Garden Canapes

Everyone knows entertaining can be fun, but extremely stressful. Preparing and serving appetizers, your main course and dessert often leaves little time for you to relax and enjoy yourself. That’s why we created our delicious Canape Menu. If you don’t have the time to make appetizers, we’re happy to prepare something delicious and innovative for you.

From Petit Crab Cakes with Lime Aioli to Fig Jam and Stilton on Biscotti, we have a wide variety of Canapes to choose from (including hors-d’oeuvres for kids like Peanut Butter and Jam sandwiches and Nutella and Banana). Too see our full list of appetizers preview our Appetizers Menu here, or you can pick up a brochure at the store.

An Inspiring Act of Kindess & Generosity

We were really inspired when we read this story of a grade 7 student in Burnaby. Tanisha became inspired to give back after hearing a presentation from a couple who had just returned from a trip to Africa. The couple was selling wristbands by donation to help out the children of Africa. Tanisha took the money she had received as a Christmas present to buy three wrist bands and felt good about contributing her money to a good cause. In a speech she gave to her school assembly, Tanisha wrote:

"Doing this made me feel amazing and gracious for what I have, and how I could help others.  The children in Africa really don’t have a lot, but I was amazed at their smiling faces and how happy they seemed even though they have so little. This really touched me and I was truly inspired. I wanted to do whatever I could to help the children out."

Inspired to keep giving back, Tanisha fundraised at her 11th birthday party to give more to the children in Africa and also collected pledges for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation by swimming in their Cystic Fibrosis Swim-A-Rama. Half of the pledges she received went to a friend of her Mom’s who had just received a double lung transplant. As a prize for her contributions, she received a Nintendo Wii, but instead of keeping it, she sold it to her friends and used that money to put towards the children in Africa. We couldn’t be more impressed with Tanisha’s continuous acts of generosity, and applaud your efforts in making this world a better place!

More Customer Photos

Lauren comes every year for high tea for her birthday – she has been coming since she was two!!! This year she brought her stuffy and her friend Rachel.

Vivian Cardey, the winner of a High Tea for Two for donating to the Love to Learn Campaign (to raise money for computers at Kerrsidale Annex).

Jamie Lee’s Photography

Did you know one of our beloved servers is a talented photographer (that's her teacup photo at the top of this newsletter)? Jamie Lee is passionate about photography and her work is now available at The Secret Garden.  We have been lucky enough to have her take some photos of our treats, and the finished product can be found framed on our walls and for sale as greeting cards. Come take a look at her work in the store, or check out her website: www.jlfuoco.com

~ From all of us at the Secret Garden