Fairy Gardens are in fashion right now. They derive from miniature gardens, which are small gardens sometimes decorated with tiny patio furniture, landscaping, varieties of flowers, succulents, mosses and rocks. Dismissed sometimes in favor of more “serious” gardening, the skill in landscaping and carefully maintaining a garden with so little room to do it makes keeping a miniature garden an engaging project.
Miniature gardens are by no means new. For the first miniature garden, we can thank Anne Ashberry, a 1950’s nursery owner. She started it as a garden for elderly, handicapped and apartment dwellers. But she created such intelligently designed and delightfully beautiful miniature gardens, gardeners of all ages and ability were inspired.
So where do fairies fit in?
There’s history in keeping a garden to please fairies. The idea was that you could plant certain flowers they like or build them a little house to calm a malicious fairy or receive good luck from a grateful one.
Can’t say I’ve always been a big believer in fairies. I don’t know, not enough Peter Pan in my childhood? But when I think about the best gardens I’ve seen recently, I find that a little childish wonder can make a garden breathtaking. And creating a fairy garden relies heavily on your inner child. The fairy gardens I’ve researched have been so innovative and charming, the fact that this is all the rage in gardening is actually not all that surprising.
My suggestions:
Breck’s has a fairy garden collection kit. I actually got to see the furniture part of the kit up close, and it’s quite sweet. Little white sun chairs, a bird bath, an arbor… the works! Surround them with the included bulb collection; a small and unique, handpicked mix to keep your little visitors attention! I found some of my new favorites while studying this bulb collection.
Don’t overlook the importance of location for your fairy garden! I particularly like the ideas of putting one in a broken wheelbarrow, cracked bird bath or hollowed tree stump. First of all, you get the real natural look that way. Secondly, you can put that old broken stuff to good use, making troubling old equipment into a beautiful statement.
Do you have a place for fairies in your garden? Or any cool ideas for where you would put one? Comment and let me know!
