What is a "Fairy Garden"?

Check this out and you are welcome! :))

http://www.rabbitshadowfarm.com/fairy-garden.htm

Oh mercy...something else I HAVE to have for the lobby of the office I work at. Is that the cutest thing or what?!!!
Chantell

I KNOW! I KNOW!
EEEEEEEEEEEE!!! :p

I know you are just getting even with me for telling you about Hattie Burton, aren't you? :^O....lol

So very cute...

BB
he-he-he ;-)

That has to be the cutest thing I have EVER seen!!!

Ya know....being the cheapo I am...I'm just wondering if some of those things could be purchased through a doll house website...hmmmm? It's like an ongoing challenge for me...do the same thing...cheaper...

Yes, Me too It looks like a wine crate, flag stone, Ive seen small items made of a wicker like materal at hobby lobby and well Fairy dust.... thats not shown Iridescent Glitter?? $47.00 I bet I can make 3 lol! For some reason it seems more magic to buy it.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/292-234
I don't know if the scale is right but its a start.

Look at you!!! You go girl!!! A seed has been planted...couldn't help the pun...much too easy...LOL

I often can make things cheaper myself.
Maybe you folks who make a Fairy Garden can post pics later. :)

Im going to start one. I found a good mini site if anyone else is intrested
http://store.miniforest.com/
Ill post some pics when Im done. Im off to play with power tools!
Caren

Caren,
See what you've got yourself into now? I feel the itch!!! Keep listing those sites!!!
Chantell

OK, obsession has reached a new high!!
Fairy garden is almost complete. Plants are all that stands in my way GRRRR!
I did find a vine that is tee tiny and looks like mini wisteria for the arbor and a few things I found in the yard that I know stay small. Thank you Cottage rose for finding something new for me to do! Ill post a pic when I get some more plants.
Caren
Ps
The running total is about $15.

I was excited to see your post as I just walked in a fairy garden glass at botinical gardens in Denver the other day. The link that cottage gardens gave is the place that was doing the class. They are out of Ft. Collins, Colorado and are opening up a place in Denver. I am so excited. The gardens they were making were fascinating. I am going to have to do it. Thanks for the great links. Barb

What a cute thing! And so doable. I will look forward to seeing pictures of your creations.

Oh for Heaven's sake! Now I have to make one for my desk at work. I swear this place creates all kinds of "needs", doesn't it?????

My MIL is a "mini enthusiaist". She and her club make mini rooms and all that. Her house is filled with all the projects she's done. She would just die if I gave her one of these for Christmas. He he he, one gift down......(and it's only April).

K

We oughta creat a list here of websites like Caren already did above and any suggestions folks have for types of plants that would be appropriate for these cuties

A Mini garden forum would be nice but the few forums I have passed this thread around in have almost no responce :(
So I guess for now a list would be nice.
I said I wasnt going to post a pic till I was done but Im just bubbling over so I'll show what I have so far.
I used
1x6 and made the box 1ft. 5in.sq. I put a ruler space between the bottom boards for drainage and lined the bottom with some old screen. On top of that I put some pea gravel then my potting soil.
For the arbor I spent considerable time in a hobby shop and decied on
2 3x5 doll house windows (bolsa wood)
5 square dowels size 1/4x36" (had some left over)
I guled it all togeather with wood glue as nails of any size split the wood. I used push pins to hlod it in place while glue was drying(yes they split the wood too but I covered the splits with calk). Clamps would have worked better but I didnt have any. I then used calk to fill any holes or spaces then painted it white.
I already had the 1x6 wood left from another project so with the little pots the running total is about $15.

Here is a top view. Keep in mind its a work in progress!

Really this is the last one! LOL!

You are amazing!!! What imagination to use the doll house windows!!! I guess for those of us lacking wood cutting skills...we'll call you...LOL I'm actually thinking I have unused shadow boxes that I could simply remove the glass from...hmmmm....matter-a-fact we have Michaels arts and crafts stores down here and things are much cheaper there then specialty shops. Guess where I'm headed to tonight? You are so bad for starting this...LOL
Chantell

Caren,
Just had a thought (they don't surface often - LOL) Have you seen the "stepables" in the nurseries? They're mostly stonecrop type ground coverings but they've also got some very fine, low fern like ones as well. Our nursery has them in either 3 or 4" pots for $2.99 - more then enough to probably make a dozen - cuz you obviously want diversity in the plants. I was also thinking (yeah, I know...3x and it's only morning yet) that you could use larger bonsai pots if you were concerned about drainage or wood rot. OMG - I seriously need to get my work-work done...!! Can you imagine the $$ you could make at craft shows with these?

CUTE!!!

Hey what plants did you decide on there?

I have no Idea what the vine is. Actually its a weed that grows in the grass here lol! It looks like a mini wisteria. Tiny lav.flowers no scent tho. I planted a mexican heather on the hill. I will train it to a scale tree or shrub depending on how small I can keep it. I have thyme in the small pots (seed).
The steping stones I used pine bark. The strapy looking plant behind the arbor is Dwarf Mondo Grass 'Nana'. On the other hill I have a pine seedling (put in just for the photo). The leafy plants toward the front is a ground cover simlar to babys tears with an ox tail bulb in the center (not sure how small I can keep it). The tree looking row was just for the picture too they are snapdragon seedlings.
Plants that I will be adding
http://store.miniforest.com/cosqmifesmle.html
http://store.miniforest.com/bestnacomiba.html
http://store.miniforest.com/bumiwi.html
http://store.miniforest.com/spjamaca.html
http://store.miniforest.com/thsemi.html
I really want this one!! http://store.miniforest.com/apabu.html
Or this one wolud be good too! http://store.miniforest.com/apakafhawi.html
I will replace the shrubs that I have in now with what I have above when it comes in. Im going to shop around for the JMaples. Im sure I can find a better price on such a small plant. Ive never looked at JM before so maybe Im dreaming lol!
Well TTFN!
Caren

Found some websites - not sure how great the prices are though till I compare w/Michael's.
http://www.dollhouseminiatures.com/Outdoor/waterfall.htm
http://www.miniatures.com/hbs/global/index2.asp?D=4902&T=shopping&I=aa_ProductsDirIntro.asp

Hay Chantell, I went shopping around for some regulas plants today and fell into a whole mess of minis!!
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/10312/
Variegated lemon thyme
Lavendar thyme
and a stepable it had no name tag but its really pretty! Its new folage is gold and turns light green as it matures.
Stepables has a web site but the plant is not on it. When I get my digi out in the AM I take a pic and post it here and also in the ID forum.

That fern you linked for me...I had a few years back. It's a fast grower and beware of the thorns!!! Yes, thorns. I found out too late it had them...yeowwww!
I went by my nursery tonight (not happy fighting crowds on weekends) and bought 3 stepables & some slate. I already had 1 stepable that was going into the ground - think I'll snatch a bit of it for the "project." Don't know your thoughts but if you decide you want to swap some out or if we find something cheaper to buy in multiples it might be monetarily helpful. You can never tell after paying priority mail $4.05 what would have been less expensive. We'll have to compare notes...if you're not interested - no worries, I promise. If you are - I'll take pics and post them tomorrow. Think I'll be hitting a store tomorrow or Sun. that is apparently very reasonable and has a good selection of doll house type stuff. This first one is going to my mom for Mom's day - then I'll do one for my office. Thanks for such a great idea!!!

I found the name of the stepable I got yesterday Sedum Makinoi 'Ogon'
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54240/index.html It looks super cool! and I also got this one at Walmart it was just marked misc. house plants lol!
It looks like some kind of fern. Maybe someone here will know what it is. I will also thank you guys for such a great Idea!

Think it is a Selaginella, check this out http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54357/index.html. Larry

Thank you Larry! That is it.

Im so glad I left these plants in the pots being they are all listed as invasive. They will be easy to take out if need be.

Love this, Caren - how 'bout a tiny gazebo open to breezes with bits of colored glass simulating stained glass? a prism at center top? Tricks with light and color? Remote controlled dragonflies? Kidding - what fun

I wonder if there isn't some outfit specializing in those miniature railroad gardens somewhere that might have something nifty for a fairy garden?

I see you already have links for miniature plants. Am reposting following in case there might be more:

type the following into a search bar of your browser or search engine (ex. www.google.com):

"miniature railroads" + plants

The following came up on MSN: http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=%22miniature+railroad%22+%2B+plants&FORM=QBRE