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Normally, you can only reach the secret garden area (where Mono walks after you beat the game) after beating all 4 game modes. If you can get your stamina increased enough, you can actually climb the back of the Shrine of Worship to reach the secret garden.
On the northeast corner of the temple, you will notice some moss/ivy growing. If you try to climb this with typical vertical jumps, you'll notice that your stamina decreases very rapidly. The trick to reaching the garden is the diagonal jump. While holding onto the wall, simply point your analog stick either up and right, or up and left, then press triangle and release when the stamina meter is at its peak. With the diagonal jump, you lose far less stamina than with the normal vertical jump. Using this technique, you can make your stamina last long enough to get you to the secret garden.
When you reach the first ledge, the end closest to you will be partially obscured by ivy. If you jump up to this corner, you will be able sit there long enough to completely recharge your stamina before continuing on.
The Path to the Garden
Hard Mode and Normal Time Attack Mode are unlocked by finishing the regular game once (For strategies on Hard Mode, consult the main guide). Hard Time Attack Mode is unlocked by finishing the Normal Time Attack.
The Time Attack Modes unlock special items for the main game. For every two colossi you defeat within the allotted time limit, an item will become available to you. To initiate Time Attack (once it's unlocked), simple press circle to kneel in front of a statue in the Shrine of Worship and the battle with that colossus will begin. The items you unlock are listed below in order of their availability.
Lizards
As you explore different areas of the land, you may notice some lizards walking around. Some of these lizards have white tails, which, when eaten, increase your stamina. When you find a white-tailed lizard, you can get it's tail a few different ways. You can slash it with your sword, and then press the circle button to kneel down and eat it. You can also take out your bow and shoot the lizard. If you shoot the lizard's body, you will kill it, and you can get the tail. If you shoot the lizard's tail, the lizard will be pinned down and try to escape. Once the lizard finally gets free, it will leave behind its white tail and eventually regrow another tail (you may have to leave and come back a few minutes later). Using this technique, you can continually increase your stamina without running out of a supply of lizard tails.
There are usually 1 or 2 lizards to be found at each save point throughout the land, but they can be found almost anywhere in the game. An unlockable can be obtained which shows the locations of the white-tailed lizards on the game map (see Unlockables above).
Fruit Trees
Some of the trees throughout the land bear fruit which, when eaten, increase your health. There are usually 1 or 2 hanging from the branches of each fruit tree. Just whip out your bow, and shoot them down. Kneel down with the circle button to eat them, and watch your health grow. An unlockable can be obtained which shows the locations of the fruit trees on the game map (see Unlockables above).
As a side note, there is fruit on some trees in the secret garden, which, when eaten, permanently decrease your health, so stay clear of them.
A few things you may not know about Shadow of the Colossus: