Fantasy Fairy Gardens

July 02, 2012

I have recently noticed some magical new gardens popping up on various blogs and websites. These tiny landscapes have all the features of your typical garden, arbors, paths, benches, and other gardening accoutrements only in miniature. What is the purpose of these verdant mini gardens? Why, they’re fairy gardens, of course!

These tiny gardens serve as a showcase for miniature and dwarf varieties of many favorite garden plants that would otherwise be lost when interplanted with regular sized plants. For instance, there are now many different miniature hostas available with all the charm and foliage variation of their larger relatives. Mosses make excellent lawns for miniscule landscapes, and the abundant varieties of terrarium plants are perfectly sized for fairies. Dwarfed and bonsai trees are also excellent choices for miniature landscapes.

Because of the increased interest in fairy gardens, there are many accessories now available to enhance your display, but the centerpiece of any miniature landscape is the fairy house. These tiny constructions can range from simple to ornate depending on the style and scale of your garden. You can purchase any miniature house, or you can construct your own from found materials. Children love fairy gardens and will be only too willling to help plan and construct your miniature wonderland.

There are several books on miniature gardens and terrariums here at MCPL. They can help you decide on your plants. For more information on fairy houses, check-out Fairy Houses-Unbelievable! by Barry Kane or Fairy Houses of the Maine Coast by Maureen Heffernan. The video Kristen’s Fairy House is also available at MCPL. For more inspiration, Powell Gardens is hosting Fairy Houses & Forts all summer which would be a great family outing.

Heather C.
Lee's Summit Branch