- Author: Sharon L. Rico
I love creating Fairy Gardens and teaching and inspiring others to create their own fairy gardens. There are so many items to decorate these miniature gardens and I find I am always hunting for tiny characters to tell a story.
Fall is coming and Halloween is just around the corner. Finding papermache pumpkins this year with laser cut openings made me jump with joy. Oh, the ideas that flowed through my head.
Purchasing several pumpkins I began by drilling three holes in the bottom for drainage. Next placing damp garden soil into the opening was completed. I planted some small sedum pieces to create a green “turf”. You could use Elfin Thyme or dichondra. Any small leaved, low ground cover is perfect.
Then place your miniatures, keeping true to your theme. Push them lightly into the soil. When your created scene (or story) is finished, it's time to decorate the pumpkin opening. I used thick glue and placed it on the opening where I wanted to place artificial moss. Craft stores carry many interesting mosses, some with pieces of wood, driftwood or mushrooms. Arrange your moss in a shape or design that is pleasing to you and press into the glue. Add additional items to the moss such as mini colorful mushrooms, ghosts and skeletons for Halloween. For Thanksgiving, add leaves, acorns, small pinecones or whatever you fancy.
When teaching mini gardens, I'm constantly amazed at the imagination and ingenuity of students. I'm always learning from others. Purchasing miniatures is expensive, so I recommend using coupons, searching goodwill stores, or sharing with friends. Our little granddaughter has her own mini gardens where she has placed Mickey and Minnie Mouse taken from her toy box. She also finds shells, corks and other items in the house or yard that are added to her gardens. The mini gardens are like planted dollhouses.
For those who do not want to water tiny gardens, you can purchase small sized aquarium gravel and anchor your miniatures in the gravel. These can be used inside, as they require no maintenance. If your garden is dark and your miniatures get lost, there are mini lights operated with batteries that can light up these spaces.
Hopefully the photos attached will inspire you to take a leap of faith and create your own holiday garden or make one as a gift for someone special.