How to Get the Garden Into Your Fairy Garden

by | Jul 10, 2015 | The Fairy's Garden | 7 comments

Tip 5: If you have a large container, create garden rooms by dividing up the space with garden beds or rockeries, like you would do in a full-sized garden.
Put the garden into your fairy garden and create enchantment at the same time.

How to Get the Garden Into Your Fairy Garden

~ So there is was, a huge box full of soil with toys scattered about, a plant in one corner and a house in the other. I looked up and took in the gorgeous view of Lake Washington as the sunset lit up the late afternoon sky.

Did she know who I was? Should I tell her?

I didn’t know what to say. The woman only knew I was into miniature gardening, she didn’t know my history nor my day-job. I was thinking that maybe I should quickly switch the conversation to the sunset or the Mariners. Lol!

But I [still] see it everywhere on the web these days. (This was first published in October of 2015.) Boxes, wheelbarrows, pots, containers and even in-ground: fairy gardens without any sort of garden element, maybe a plant or two. Perhaps we should start calling them fairy sandboxes? Fairy soil-boxes?

You can get the garden into your fairy garden even if it’s in a pot. Here is a short visual essay, using fairy accessories, to show you how planting a few trees and shrubs for your fairies to hide in, can increase the enchantment dramatically.

Tip 1: By using the accessories in the garden as you would in your full-sized garden, you can begin to sort out your garden rooms.
Tip 1: By using the accessories in the garden as you would in your full-sized garden, you can begin to sort out your garden rooms.

The little shrub on the left is a Duflon Fir. The tree on the right is a Majestic Japanese Holly.

(Garden at top: Elwood Cypresses with ground cover Thyme on the left and Cranesbill Flore Pleno on the right.)

Find miniature garden plants that work for your area here, in America’s first and foremost Miniature Garden Center, TwoGreenThumbs.com. You can search by light or by your zone.

Tip 2: Create garden beds like you do in full-sized gardening. Include plants with different heights and textures.
Tip 2: Create garden beds like you do in full-sized gardening. Include plants with different heights and textures.

The tree above is Jervis Canada Hemlock. See all our miniature and dwarf Hemlocks for gardening in miniature here. Check back often because our inventory is always changing.

Tip 3: Less is more. One idea at a time, one idea per pot.
Tip 3: Less is more. One idea at a time, one idea per pot. Keep it simple.

The tree is Nana Hinoki Cypress. See what Hinoki Cypress we have in stock today. Check back often because our inventory is always changing.

Tip 5: Let it grow. Give the miniature and dwarf trees a chance to grow in and up. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results.
Tip 5: Let it grow. Give the miniature and dwarf trees a chance to grow in and up. It may take a few years, but you will be pleasantly surprised with the results. You can always start with bigger trees, but be prepared to pay dearly for them.

The tree in the back is Jean Iseli Hinoki Cypress (we don’t see that tree very much these days, the Nana Hinoki Cypress is very similar.) The bushes in the front are baby Podocarpus.

Tip 5: If you have a large container, create garden rooms by dividing up the space with garden beds or rockeries, like you would do in a full-sized garden.
Tip 5: If you have a large container, create garden rooms by dividing up the space with garden beds or rockeries, like you would do in a full-sized garden. Above, I made one side a realistic garden and the other side was very fairy.

This was an indoor garden I made for a Plow & Hearth store. I used Wilma Cypress and Variegated Boxwood trees, combined them with Dwarf Mondo Grass, Baby Tears and small ivy starts.

Tip 6: Make them work for it. We have a tiny secret garden behind this patio. Only the very observant see it.
Tip 6: Make them work for it. We have a tiny secret garden behind this patio. Only the very observant see it.

The tree is Jervis Canada Hemlock (can you tell it’s a favorite tree of mine? More coming in the fall.)

**Not all trees are available at all times. Please join our email list to get notifications when new and different trees arrive here.**

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7 Comments

  1. Angela
    Angela on 06/08/2015 at 2:54 pm

    Love your gardens…Are these all plastic plants or real? I’m just starting a fairy garden and I need help on what plants…Thank you

    Reply
  2. Shirley Kimball
    Shirley Kimball on 03/01/2016 at 12:26 pm

    You are amazingly creative! How I wish my 85
    Years (March 27th) had discovered you
    30 years ago! Shirley Kimball – WESLEY
    HOMES & GARDENS, Des Moines, WA

    Reply
  3. Laquietta Furrh
    Laquietta Furrh on 04/01/2016 at 5:21 pm

    love the small living trees how do i get some

    Reply
  4. Alina
    Alina on 26/01/2016 at 3:46 am

    This is awesome! Lovely arrangements!

    Reply

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