The garden after the gale

The wind had shaken the glasshouse roof throughout the night. At dawn, I stood outside the garden gate, convinced that every flower bed would be flattened. For several minutes, I found reasons not to turn the key. The first families were due at ten, however, and I pictured the children arriving to find a notice instead of an open gate. Inside, broken stems covered one path, but the old magnolia still held several tight buds. I stopped thinking about concealing the damage. By opening time, I wanted visitors to follow the path exactly as it was and see where the garden's recovery would begin.

In your own words, explain the writer's thoughts and feelings as the garden's opening time approaches.