Where Are You Hiding Your Fairy Garden?
Blog by Diana McLaughlin Bennett
Where are you hiding your Fairy Garden?
When my granddaughter was five years old, she came to spend the summer with me. We lived on the beach, so we would go in search of beach glass and sand dollars every day. She loved walking in the shallow water and yelping when a baby crab tickled her toes.
I wanted her to take more interest in the garden, so I decided a Fairy Garden should inhabit our garden. We started small by placing miniature chairs and people among my plants in pots. I would sneak out at night and move them around, so she had to find them in the morning. I would find new additions to make it more fun.
When I moved to Vacaville, our home had a fairly established garden. I love to cook, so the first thing I added to the yard was an herb garden. I decided it would be the perfect spot for a Fairy Garden. I thought my herbs would enjoy some friends. Little by little, when I saw something fun, I would add it to the garden. My husband’s granddaughters live close by, so I thought they would enjoy seeing what was there or what was added when they came to visit. It was an instant success, and each time they came to the house, they would run directly to my herb garden to see what was new.
With each season of the year, I would add something appropriate to the garden. For Halloween, a graveyard and scary things were hidden in the herbs. Christmas brought Santa, a hot-chocolate stand, and sledders. I’ll add something red for Valentine’s Day. It always brings a smile to my face to watch the girls look for the newest treasure.
The Fairy Garden can be fun and not expensive. You can find lots of fun things to add from local craft stores and many garden shops. It is important to believe in magic in life! I find it magical to have a Fairy Garden among my herbs, but you could have yours anywhere in the garden.