 Image by 2000holmes from Pixabay. Summer weather is finally here and my garden is coming along nicely. This year the plan is to use my raised garden bed for herbs and wildflowers, with the idea of creating a small fairy garden once everything comes into bloom. I can’t wait to design a magical hiding spot for the local fairies underneath the vibrant summer flowers!  Herb garden in a raised flower bed. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2020. It’ll be a few more weeks before I have that lush, fragrant flower garden. In the meantime, I’m doing some research for inspirational ideas. It’s been a minute since I’ve created an outdoor fairy garden (I usually create indoor fairy gardens with faux florals) so this will be a nice change of pace.  Fairy cottage by Di's Studio Designs. If you’re new to fairy gardens, you may feel overwhelmed with all the possibilities. You may have questions and don’t know where to start. If this is you, read on! This blog post will help you break the process into small chunks, allowing you to create a successful plan for a whimsical fairy garden that will last all summer! The posts in this article contain affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. I will only recommend products or services I use personally and/or believe will add value to my readers, so there is no conflict of interest. 1. Choose decor you love Firstly, create a fairy garden around what you love. Make it an extension of your home. Think about plants, colors, and styles you love, and don’t be afraid to infuse the garden with your unique personality. 2. Get crafty with DIY projects DIY projects are a great way to add a personal touch to your garden. There are houses, wooden mushrooms, butterflies, and all sorts of whimsical items available in unfinished wood that you can paint with your favorite colors. Or use those crafty skills to build your own house, bridge, or trellis out of popsicle sticks, branches, or basswood. Get your kids or grandkids involved for a bit of afternoon fun!    3. Use weather-friendly decor Make sure your garden accessories are weatherproof. Your fairy garden has to withstand wind, rain, heat, and possibly cold. Store-bought items should be made for outdoor use. Handmade decor should be finished with sealants made for outdoor furniture and decor.     4. Up-cycle containers for planters and pots Get creative with unique up-cycled containers to use as planters and pots. Think outside the box! Look around your home for empty cans, broken pots, old wheelbarrows—anything you can prep for use as a planter. It needs to hold soil, hold up to moisture, and provide good drainage if used for plants. (You may need to drill a few holes.)  Image by Grigory Bruev on Adobe Stock.  Image by DebraAnderson on Adobe Stock. 5. Choose your spot Pick a spot for your fairy garden! It could be on the patio, in a rock garden, or in a corner of your existing garden. A raised garden might be easier to maintain for children or those with mobility issues. Build your fairy garden near a water feature—like the Pure Garden LED waterfall—for an added sense of drama. Or design your own water feature with a store-bought pump, ceramic pot, and water-loving plants. Shade and shelter from the elements will keep your decor looking good for longer. And your resident fairies will thank you as well!  Image by Rony Zmiri from Adobe Stock. 6. Do research on plants Research the plants you’d like to use and get to know their soil, light, and water needs. Plants grouped close to each other should have similar needs. For the best results, choose plants that are drought-resistant and low-maintenance. You’re creating a small version of a garden so keep in mind smaller plants work better for miniature landscapes. Use scale, shapes, colors, and flower sizes when combining several flower types. If you’re a novice to gardening start simple with just a few small plants. Each year you can expand your garden to include more plants as you get more confident in your gardening skills.  Image by Darwin Carozza from Adobe Stock. 7. Less is more! Take the time to think about placement and scale rather than trying to use as many things as possible. You want your garden to tell a story, and too many things will look busy. Start by placing your focal point (maybe your house or favorite plant) and the larger items in their respective spots. Then let your intuition guide you as you slowly place one item at a time around them, building up the environment as if it grew organically. If it starts to look too cluttered, subtract an item or two! 8. Light it up! One of the most enchanting ways to bring your fairy garden to life is to light it up in the evenings. Warm solar LED lights that will immerse you and your guests in a magical ambiance. There’s nothing more relaxing than spending an evening sitting near a garden lit with the soft glow of fairy lights, and the sound of crickets chirping in the background!   9. Unleash your imagination! Tell a story, be creative, and tap into your inner child! Your fairy garden should be an extension of your home and reflect your interests. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Some more experienced gardeners create intricate miniature towns with buildings and roads. (This falls more under the umbrella of miniature gardens rather than fairy gardens, but it’s worth a mention.) The more eccentric individuals lean into the mystical and witchy themes. You could design beach scenes, a gnome village, a rabbit homestead, or a more traditional fairy garden with winged fairies, frogs, and mushrooms. I’ve even seen an alien landing site! Anything goes! Make it fun and don’t take it too seriously and you’ll have a fairy garden you will enjoy all summer!   If you need more inspiration and ideas for your outdoor fairy garden check out Fairy Homes & Gardens and Magical Fairy Homes & Gardens by Barbara Purchia and Ashley Rooney. These books are full of amazing ideas and fairy decor by skilled artisans and craftspeople. (My fairy cottages are featured in the latter!)    If you’d like a handcrafted custom wooden fairy house for whimsical indoor decor check out my online shop here, or email me at [email protected].  Handcrafted English cottage by Di's Studio Designs. Related blogs you may want to read: Need new arts and crafts supplies for those spring DIY projects? 17 Must-have Cottagecore home accents Romantic fairycore cottage bedroom decor Create a magical space this spring with these fantasy fairycore home accents 21 Enchanting woodland fairycore home accents 6 more flowers that attract fairies to your fairy garden 8 Flowers that attract fairies to your fairy garden Who are the Irish fairies? 10 Essential elements for a magical outdoor fairy garden A brief history of the origins of fairy gardens My outdoor fairy garden My fairy house project
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