These eye-catching fairy gardens will add whimsy and beauty to your home or garden.
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What is a fairy garden?
A fantastic miniature garden where fairies are said to gather. You can create it outdoors in your garden or indoors in a container. We spoke to gardening expert Julie Bowden Davis to find out more.
What are the rules of the fairy garden?
“While there are few hard and fast rules for fairy gardens, there are some guidelines for creating an eye-catching and enchanting miniature garden,” says Borden-Davis.
- Keep scale consistent: “When choosing plants for your fairy garden, it's important to consider scale,” says Borden-Davis. “Use real miniature plants for your fairy garden, rather than small plants that grow large and confuse or throw the landscape out of scale.”
- Less is more: “Be careful in choosing accessories and plants,” says Borden-Davis. “Avoid putting too much stuff in your fairy garden as it will make it look cluttered.”
- Consider solar requirements. “Make sure the plants you use in your fairy garden are either sun or shade,” says Borden-Davis. “If you try to mix plant types, you will fail.”
- enjoy: “Creating and growing a fairy garden is a process and takes some practice,” says Borden-Davis. “If you make a mistake, you can always correct it. The fairy garden is small, so small mistakes can easily happen!”
What are the basic elements of a fairy garden?
The possibilities are endless.
“The basic elements of a fairy garden are miniature plants, fairies and their friends. [like dogs, cats and ducks] and accessories,” says Borden-Davis. “Accessories run the gamut from small watering cans, to small rakes and hoes, to birdbaths, benches, gazebos and globes.
“If you're planting your fairy garden in a container, make sure it's large enough for the fairy scene you're planning. The container should always have drainage holes.”
About experts
julie borden davis He is a best-selling journalist, blogger, speaker, and novelist. She is the founder and publisher of her HealthyHouseplants.com and author of the book. Fairy gardening: Create your own magical miniature garden.
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two tiered fairy garden
Indoor fairy gardens can be enjoyed year-round, but this one from @momster_nessa_ is twice the fun. Two tiered serving trays allow for two complementary gardens.
The lower garden features a glassstone bridge across the river, while the upper garden features an adorable fairy house. A stick and string ladder allows easy access to both levels.
Why I like it
Not only does it have a distinctive container, but it also has a design that doesn't overcrowd things. “He chooses one item, whether it's a plant, a fairy, or an accessory, and designs the garden around that focal point,” says Borden-Davis.
In this case, a fairy house made of sticks is the main element.
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Planter Fairy Gardens
Terracotta planters make great fairy garden containers because they contain miniature objects and can be moved around your outdoor space as needed.
These gardens by @tami_omalley include succulents, small river rocks, fairy accessories from the dollar store, and more. The small pond was created by painting the lid of a mason jar blue and filling it with clear glue to create a water effect. Smart!
Why I like it
Portability.
“Make sure the pot is placed in a location that receives adequate light for the type of plant,” says Borden-Davis. “This changes throughout the year, so you'll likely need to move your fairy garden around depending on the season and the growth of nearby plants.”