FIVE YEARS AGO, my Woodland Garden was not a garden at all. It was a jungle of wild sumac, aggressive vines, and thorny brambles. You couldn’t pass through the area without the aid of a machete and a can of bug spray. Read on, and I'll show you how clearings were made, how paths were laid out to create a sense of mystery, and how the addition of a gurgling pond, comfortable seating, and colorful woodland plants all contributed to making this former eyesore a shady retreat. (And if you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll even show you my “Secret Garden,” which is hidden within the woodland one.)