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Fairy Gardens

Fairies at the bottom at the Garden

Who doesn’t love the idea that there are fairies at the bottom of the garden? Some of us have never grown out of the idea that fairies exist!  For us, fairies are magical creatures who care for nature and wildlife in a similar way to that which Angels are said to care for humans.

Making a fairy garden is easy.  It is great to do as a project for yourself and certainly a fun way to introduce children of any age to plants and gardening.  There are no rights or wrongs and no age limits on who can make one.

How to Create a Fairy Garden

Choose an area of the garden or a suitable planter.  The planter can be any shape or size, but if you have a container you are particularly fond of it makes the ‘imagination’ part easier.  You might have an old tin bath, basket or a mini wheelbarrow.  Anything will do especially if it has a bit of character and you feel the fairies would like to adopt it.

Choosing the Plants

We usually assume that fairies are small creatures, so you need to include plants with small foliage and dainty flowers.  I like to use alpines such as phlox, armeria, dianthus, saxifrage and sempervivum.  You need a variety of plants with different shapes and colours that give the suggestion of a miniature landscape.  A small lavender, dwarf conifer, sweet bay or rosemary can give the impression of a tree or shrub.  For colour and beauty, I would use violas in spring or autumn but in summer you could use a summer annual such as bacopa or million bells.  If your fairies are particularly hard working you might like to introduce herbs or strawberries into the garden.  They would certainly enjoy the scents and flavours.

Landscaping the garden

As all good garden designers like to tell us, hard landscaping can bring shape to a garden and fairy gardens are no exception.  Woodchip is a useful tool to hide small patches of bare earth.  You can use grit or shingle to create pathways and, my personal favourite, little mini log steppingstones.  Find some stones to give the sense of a rockery and use sticks to make mini fences.  My favourite magic ingredients are items that you can find on a nature walk.  Acorns, shells, fir cones and feathers are wonderful additions and always received well by fairies.

Welcoming the fairies to the garden

The most important part is to say a magical fairy welcome so that the fairies know they are invited.  Everyone knows that fairies do not visit if you watch too closely so take your time.  In a few days you will know that they have moved in because you will find odd things being moved around or disappearing, only to reappear exactly where you looked earlier! . . . .  Now where did I leave my gardening gloves?

You may like to watch my videos to give you more ideas!

Hello

My name is Ruth Goudy. I write regularly on social media and I would love you to join the conversation. Flowers are here to be enjoyed and shared. I always appreciate comments on my blogs and posts. Maybe it is a certain flower's meaning to you, a memory of your relatives talking about flowers or even a poem to share. All of it is interesting and important to our enjoyment and understanding of flowers. Thank you.
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Thank you to the Horticulture Trades Association f Thank you to the Horticulture Trades Association for our new national garden gift voucher facemasks!
This year will mark our 20th year of marriage and 20 years of building a nursery from scatch into the garden centre it is today @kilnfarm.
These sempervivum are plugs the size of my thumbna These sempervivum are plugs the size of my thumbnail.
They are waiting to be potted up.
Rosemary for Remembrance. In my latest blog I look Rosemary for Remembrance.
In my latest blog I look at how plants evoke precious memories. I am so fortunate to have met many wonderful customers @kilnfarm and over the years many of them have become friends.
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Today, while counting perennials for the stocktake Today, while counting perennials for the stocktake @kilnfarm, I was rewarded by finding this beautiful anemone. It was nestling unobtrusively among the perennials, most of which are still bare pots.
The alliums are just poking tentative shoots above The alliums are just poking tentative shoots above the earth.
I am so looking forward to seeing them in full flower in the warmth and bright light of summer.
Alliums are examples of flowers that make us feel good because there is a mathematical perfection about them. Each floret is symmetrical and they all join up to form a perfect sphere.
I am a nursery owner and a writer. This year lockd I am a nursery owner and a writer.
This year lockdown zoom calls and membership of @gdnmediaguild has meant that I have had a chance to consider my photos more carefully.
Thank you @joewainwrightphotography @julieskeltonphoto and @dilstonphysicgarden for the opportunity to learn some basic principles. Here I am attempting to work with light.
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Download my free ebook ‘How to connect with the Flowers’

You will also receive newsletters so that you are the first to hear about talks and events, are notified when I publish flower blogs or YouTube videos and find out what is going on in the world of plants and horticulture.

ebook

You will receive an email with a link to download my ebook in your welcome email.

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