DECIDEDLY MAGICAL. Those words describe my reaction to fairy gardens, mini scenes created with small scale fairies, gnomes, animals and more in an unexpected spot within a flower garden.
I saw my first fairy gardens during the Northfield Garden Club 2014 Garden Tour and have loved them ever since.
Maybe it’s the kid in me or perhaps the creative in me that appreciates these delightful scenes that transport me from reality into a storybook world. We all need to escape the chaos of life occasionally, even if but for a few minutes. Fairy gardens do just that for me.
It’s OK to embrace the child within us, to imagine living in an enchanting place where goodness and kindness and love prevail and everyone gets along. I believe those truths when I spot a fairy garden in the tranquility of a flower garden.
Recently I discovered a new fairy garden at the Rice County Master Gardeners Teaching Gardens located on the Rice County Fairgrounds in Faribault. This garden had already been a favorite spot to visit, to walk among the flowers and other plants, to observe butterflies and birds, and to watch water spilling from a water feature inside a pond.
A volunteer working there on the day I stopped mentioned that the fairy garden is especially popular with kids, who often move the figurines. I love that—envisioning children playing with the mini people and animals, rearranging the scene, stories spinning through their heads. Imaginative play is something we should all engage in, even as adults. We’re never too old, or too young, for that.
Unlike real life, fairy tales always have happy endings. The prince finds Cinderella. Little Red Riding Hood defeats the Big Bad Wolf. Jack climbs the beanstalk, outsmarts the giant, escapes, and saves the day to live happily ever after. Ah, if only happily ever after was always the ending.
Fairy gardens offer a respite, happiness, if we we choose to pause, bend low, see them. If we choose to believe in their magic.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
They are so fun, aren’t they?
I just love finding them, along with painted stones.
thank you, thank you, for sharing this, Audrey! I am a huge fan of fairies and fairy gardens!
You are welcome, Beth. I’m not surprised you share my enthusiasm for fairy gardens. They are magical.
And I for one choose to believe in the magic of fairies and treasure visits to their gardens.
Another kindred spirit who believes in their magic.
I always enjoy finding fairy gardens. I love creating my own, and then seeing folks stop to look at it in my back garden. 😉
I can only imagine the joy you feel when others delight in your fairy gardens. Thank you for creating this bit of magic in your back garden.
What a fun post, thank you!!
You are welcome, Kathy. “Fun” is a good word.
Nothing better than the unexpected surprise in the garden! I love when people pop in art, water features, etc. within a garden scape. Your post today reminded me of Winnie the Pooh and his adventures with Piglet. Be in the woods, in the garden – love nothing better than the great outdoors and adventuring, exploring, watching the fauna, flora, wildlife, et. al. 🙂 Happy Day – Enjoy
You’re right. Fairy gardens are rather Winnie the Pooh-ish.
Ah, so true… “ We all need to escape the chaos of life occasionally…” Fairy gardens = what a lovely way to do it!
So glad you appreciate fairy gardens also.
👍🏽❤️
Lucy made a fairy garden several years ago. We still have the baby pigtail Palm she had in it- no longer tiny! She says she wants to do another but that hasn’t happened – maybe next year as her last chance while home!
What? Wait. Lucy’s going to be a senior? How can that be? She was only in kindergarten yesterday.
Next year she’ll be a senior! I’ve got another two years with her!
Oh, good, two years!