Where the Magic Forest Grows: A Story About Love, Memory, and Renewal

At Hope Eternal Gardens, every tree planted tells a story—of remembrance, healing, and connection across generations. Our illustrated story, Where the Magic Forest Grows, was created to share one of those stories: a tender reflection on how love can take root, grow, and continue long after we’re gone.

Written by Lauren Robie and illustrated by Chris Alonso, Where the Magic Forest Grows combines art, storytelling, and sound to create an immersive experience that captures the emotional power of planting a forest. The project includes an illustrated storybook, a short video, and a layered soundscape featuring the natural sounds of Hope Eternal Gardens—birds calling, wind through young trees, and the voices of loved ones. Together, these elements bring to life the feeling of being in a forest that is both real and symbolic—a place where love, memory, and nature intertwine.

The Story

The story follows a young woman who returns to the forest she once planted with her grandmother—a living place filled with wonder, change, and connection. What began as a small grove of seedlings grew into something far greater: a space where love and life continue to flourish.

As she walks beneath the trees, she remembers their time together—searching for butterflies, painting leaves, and exploring the garden that became their special place. When her grandmother passes away, the forest becomes a source of comfort and renewal, reminding her that love doesn’t disappear; it transforms.

The Inspiration

Where the Magic Forest Grows was inspired by Lauren and Chris’s lifelong love of plants, nature, and the simple act of making memories with the people they love most. It reflects how those shared moments—planting, exploring, and simply being together—stay with us through happy times, difficult times, and every moment in between.

Just as forests grow and change with the seasons, so too does love. It deepens, expands, and finds new forms of expression. This story helps children and adults alike understand that life and death are part of a continuous cycle—one that can be beautiful, grounding, and full of meaning.

The Soundscape

To bring the story to life, Lauren created an original soundscape recorded at Hope Eternal Gardens. The mix of birdsong, wind, and quiet voices creates a sense of presence—of being surrounded by both nature and memory. It’s a reminder that love lingers not only in our hearts but in the landscapes we nurture.

More Than a Story

In many ways, Where the Magic Forest Grows mirrors what happens at Hope Eternal Gardens during every planting season. Families come together to plant trees, share memories, and create spaces of renewal. These forests become living memorials—symbols of love that continue to grow, just like the story itself.

Where the Magic Forest Grows is not only for children; it’s for anyone who has ever planted something with love. It’s a reflection on how art, ecology, and emotion can come together to help us understand that love never truly ends—it grows, transforms, and continues through the living world around us.

Experience the story, the illustrations, and the sound of the forest where love grows on.

Published book coming soon!