Miniature gardens like Kathy Swenson's fairy garden are blossoming in a big way in the gardening world. Not only are they a creative way to cultivate, they're perfect for people who are limited on space. Believe it or not, Kathy's garden is only 10 by 10 feet. If her fairy garden were full scale, it would cover acres and acres--and would take hours and hours to maintain. Kathy recommends creating a raised bed in an easy-to-see location.
This mini garden began with a special outdoor dollhouse constructed by a company that builds birdhouses. With a miniature home that could weather the elements, the next step was to create an entrance for Kathy so she could walk easily among the tiny plants and objects. Kathy's stone path came from a full-size shale stone path that was falling apart. She began collecting small pieces of the shale and laid them out to create a fairy-sized pathway.
The next challenge was to find plants that fit the scale of the landscape. The best plants to choose have leaves and flowers that match the size of the objects in the landscape. Kathy's garden is mostly bonsai trees, alpine plants and lots of Japanese dwarf plants. She's had great success with miniature astilbe, dwarf arborvitae trees, mugo pine and thumbnail hostas.
One plant that really creates the illusion of a large tree is a fig tree, complete with a tiny tire swing. Kathy says it is a bonsai tree called ficus 'Too Little'. And to keep her little landscape healthy, Kathy plants all the trees in pots, sinking them into the ground. And because she lives in a cold climate, Kathy digs up her pots when temperatures drop, and stores them inside until temperatures warm again. If you live in a warmer climate, you can leave the plants in the ground.
Besides the plants, the miniature accessories in this fairy garden really add a whimsical touch. Kathy scours garden centers and miniature shops searching for tiny treasures made of stone stone wall, porcelain adirondack chairs, any material that will stand up in the rain. If it's glued together, it will fall apart. And when she can't find the perfect piece, she makes her own. This fence is simply sticks, held together with tiny brads.
There’s no question children find these miniature gardens enchanting, but Kathy says it's really the adults who love the garden most. It seems to bring the kid out in everybody!
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