To get started on a fairy garden it is good to choose a theme and there is no limit to the imagination here. You can make an English cottage garden, a fairy playground, a beach vacations, etc. Sketching out your design is helpful. Draw in any streams or lakes you want to add. It's always fun to add paths and hidden places too. There are tons of ideas on Pinterest if you need a little help with the creativity.
Once you have a plan, choose a container and make sure it has good drainage in the the bottom. If you need to drill a few holes, go for it. Fill it with soil and add your pebbles or water ways first. Adding water can be as simple as purchasing the blue stones at your local craft store. I always like to add some bark for bridges or little place to hide animals.
The next step is to take a visit to your local nursery to find plants to fill your garden. Herbs, succulents and tiny ground cover plants are popular options because of their small scale. Some of my favorite plants are the Elfin Thyme and Irish Mosses. Of course succulents because they are so low maintenance and Rosemary is amazing for it's heartiness and texture.
Once you choose your plants and set them in their space in the garden it's time to accessorize!
Almost every craft store and garden center has a section for fairy accessories. There is so many options. Some are inexpensive and some are over priced in my opinion. My favorite thing about building a fairy garden is many of the darling accessories you find can be made at home with sticks, glue, stones, and a few craft supplies.
It's also good to remember that you can begin with a few elements and add to it over time. While you are outdoors this summer you can find all sorts of treasures to add. It keeps your garden growing and makes it interesting for your children. I promise they will be on the look out for sticks and stones to add! These next few photos are some of the accessories that we made for our gardens...
Fairy Tutu Clothes Line...because every fairy needs to a place to do her laundry.
Flower Fairies made from wooden pegs and silk flowers.
Mushrooms made from Crayola Air Dry Clay
Fairy House purchased from JoAnn's
Fairy Campfire made with sticks and a little orange wool.
Gwendolyn the woodland fairy made from a wooden peg, silk leaves and a feather.
(She is my favorite!)
Bottle Cap Chair made using wire and a cap.
The woodland fairy house from a branch, bark and stones. All put together with glue. It is so simple to make these houses. Give your children a pile of wood, some stones and glue..you'll be surprised and what they come up with.
One of my absolute favorite fairy garden accessories are these Tiny Fairy Houses by Kirsti Ringger. She makes each one by hand and the best part is the surprise inside! Kirsti became inspired on a trip to Iceland by the little houses across their landscape. she makes these tiny houses and hides them along trails for people to find. Inside each house is a little note that tells the finder to "steal" the house and take a picture of it in it's new home. she created a Facebook page for people to post pictures of the houses they find and the ones they share. It is fun to see where they all end up.
I love her creativity and the fun of sharing something tiny and sweet with a fellow stranger. Check out her ETSY shop and pick up a few Tiny Houses. You will love them!
Now that you are hooked on fairy gardens, you have to take your children to the Fairy Forest! Not many people know about this little Utah treasure because it is hidden away in the Wasatch Cache National Forest. To find it go past Kamas towards Mirror Lake and pull off at the Shady Dell Campground. If you walk through the campground you will find a trail that leads to a real Fairy Forest.
