It’s been nearly a year since The Big Explorer built a fairy house. But thanks to several visits from the tooth fairy since then, he hasn’t lost his belief in the magical world in which they exist.
When I suggested it might be fun to build a fairy garden in our backyard, he jumped to it. He immediately started drawing a blueprint for the garden, which he called his “fairy city.”
Making a fairy garden can be as simple or elaborate as you want. We started with an old crate and some leftover soil from our wildflower plantings. The Big Explorer’s blueprint also featured a garden, some rocks, moss, a pool, a resting log and a couple of cars (of course!).
We picked up what we needed from our local Home Depot, then set about creating the fairy garden. Aside from pouring in the dirt, The Big Explorer created the entire thing himself.
First came the plants, which are trees to the fairies.
Then came the pool, resting log, rock path and moss.
And finally, the cars.
He added a few special touches, like a tiny pinecone to a leaf on one of the trees and some special stones given to him last summer from the forest fairies.
He thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. He’s hoping our backyard fairies will love their garden as much as he does.
Note: Ours is a very simple example of a fairy garden. You can finddetailed instructions on how to make a fairy gardenatthe Magic Onions.
Take-Home Tips
- Let the kids take the lead. From concept to execution, this fairy garden was all from the creative mind of The Big Explorer.
- Help foster a sense of magic. I’ve got a feeling our backyard fairies will be paying the garden a visit. Perhaps leave behind a flower or two to show their appreciation.
More Ideas for Backyard NatureFun
FAQs
What is a Fairy Garden? Fairy gardens are hugely popular because they connect us with our sometimes long-lost imaginations and allow us to create a whimsical world of our very own. They're a fun, escapist project—whether or not you have kids! Enter: these best fairy garden ideas.
How to create a fairy tale garden? ›
Bright blooms, miniature fairy statues, tiny furniture, moss, and gnomes all set the scene. The whimsical garden style may offer winding paths, arches, and trellises covered with enchanting plants and flowers.
Where to put a fairy garden? ›
Try placing one in your small garden or on the patio. You can even build one in a raised bed, in a planter, or near your vegetable garden—the possibilities are endless! Start with a pot or other container you have on hand already.
What are the rules for fairy gardens? ›
RULES OF THUMB
- Don't use iron or nickel in the fairy garden as they will repel your fairies.
- Fairies appreciate when you recycle, compost and garden organically.
- Perfect playmates for fairies are fireflies, ladybugs and butterflies.
- Fairies have an affection for honey, sugar and sweet cakes.
Making a fairy garden is simple – you only need a few supplies. The “tricky” part is the fun part – using your imagination to set up and arrange a tiny little world. Depending on how much up-keep you want to put into your creation once you build it, you can use real or fake plants in your fairy garden.
Which two things do most fairy gardens have? ›
"A typical fairy garden should have a variety of miniature trees and plants for the fairies to hide, maybe a fairy house or a fairy fortress of some kind,” says Calvo.
How big should a fairy garden be? ›
Create Your Own Fairy Garden
To begin, find a container that is shallow, approximately 2 to 4 inches deep and 12 to 20 inches wide. This size would make a suitable miniature landscape, but the boundaries of your fairy garden can be as big or wide as your imagination.
What do you do with a fairy garden in the winter? ›
Perennials, miniature trees and shrubs are not houseplants; they need a cold, dormant period in the winter. You can bring the container into an unheated garage, or porch, ideally somewhere about 32 to 50 degrees. The goal is to maintain dormancy without subjecting the plants to repeated freezing and thawing.
Should I make a fairy garden? ›
A fairy garden is actually a great option to place in hard to grow areas. Other than some small garden plants, most items that make up a fairy garden will be things that don't need to worry about direct sunlight or good soil. Fairy gardens are a great place to let your creative juices and imagination run wild.
What is a indoor fairy garden? ›
Now you can have a living Fairy Garden inside your bedroom! Grow a field of grass around your fairy's sweet little cottage and create a magical mini garden she will love. With a doormouse living in a tiny flower house and flowers galore, your fairy will have a home that you both will adore!
In literature and art, garden fairies serve as powerful symbols of innocence, wonder, and the magic of the natural world. Their presence in stories and paintings often evokes a sense of nostalgia for childhood, when the boundary between reality and imagination was more fluid.
What container can I use for a fairy garden? ›
Just about any container will do for your Fairy Garden… a flowerpot, an old wine barrel, a silver soup tureen, a basket, an old wagon, a wheel barrow to name just a few. As moss loves to be watered often, it's important that the container has holes in the bottom so that it will drain well.
What can I use instead of soil in fairy garden? ›
Papercrete for Fairy Gardens. Many of you may have heard of hypertufa, a mixture comprised usually of perlite, sand, peat moss and portland cement.
How do you make a fairy garden pathway? ›
For example, if you want to form a natural stone walkway, fill the edged area with sand, and pat it down (I like to use a small piece of wood for this step.) On top of the sand, place stones to cover the area for the pathway, fill in the spaces with the mini path and patio mix, and pat it down again.
