Looking for a fun, creative activity to do with your child this summer? Our local garden center was offering a fairy garden class, and my daughter and I found a way to combine our fascination with miniatures and our love of gardening. Bonus: We had a fun evening together. Here are a few tips to help you make your own fairy garden. Alison Hodgson To start you need to choose a container. My mom knew we were taking the class and nabbed this jadeite-green enamel pan at a garage sale for Eden. It was widely admired. Others had wagons, small crates, trays, large terra-cotta saucers and boxes; one lady even used a jewelry box. Alison Hodgson Fill your container with a light planting mix to about an inch from the top. Alison Hodgson Alison Hodgson A big decision is what major accent piece you want. We chose an arbor from the many selections. Placing it is first thing you need to do. Once that’s done you can create a little pebble path. Alison Hodgson Alison Hodgson Choosing the plants is surprisingly easy if, like me, you bring a child who knows exactly what she wants. In general it’s best to select at least three plants: something that climbs, something that flowers and something that has an interesting texture.

This is where you can get really creative, and it’s exciting how quickly your container will become a miniature garden. Alison Hodgson Alison Hodgson Finally, you need to choose your accessories. This can be the hardest part. Do you want a bench, a chair, a wheelbarrow, a hanging pot, a frog perched in a birdbath? A ceramic bunny, rabbit or lamb?

Surely you need a tiny watering can? A lantern? A candelabra to hang from your arbor? Alison Hodgson Eden settled on a hanging basket in a pleasing blue, a robin in its nest and a tiny pink pig. Alison Hodgson Alison Hodgson Here is the old jewelry box all decked out. I love the bike path and the dry streambed. Alison Hodgson This garden has an arbor and a pinecone house; the accessories were kept to a minimum — just a little lamb. Look at the beautiful layering of flowers and leaves. Alison Hodgson Alison Hodgson Alison Hodgson Although they’re called fairy gardens, I don’t actually ever like to see fairy figurines placed in them. That’s too obvious for my taste — and, I’m happy to say, Eden feels the same. Alison Hodgson This garden was made by a another child. I love the table and chairs made from wood chips with the walnut bowl on top. Alison Hodgson This year we’re thinking about planting one right in the garden under a large viburnum with a carpet of moss that Eden transplanted last season.

Have you planted a fairy garden? Share a picture in the Comments.

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