Fairy Garden fest celebrates the miniature
For centuries, people have been enchanted by the notion of fairies residing in their gardens scattering mischief and magic. A tiny seedling in an unexpected place - that's the magic; a pot overturned - that's the mischief.
While this evidence may not be enough to convince everyone fairies are indeed a reality, adding fairy gardens to the landscape is a tradition of encouraging more of the magic and less of the mischief.
Fairy gardens are just small-scale gardens decorated with tiny furnishings and other treasures to give the appearance of tiny beings living there. They can be planted in small, secluded areas in the landscape where they will be discovered by chance. Or they can be planted in any space you want to add a bit of charm. Planted in containers, fairy gardens can be moved where the mood strikes.
Planting a fairy garden in a container is an easy way to start. Hypertufa troughs, old wheelbarrows and vintage washtubs are perfect containers for woodland or rustic fairy gardens. A large decorative concrete urn would be a suitable home for a formal fairy garden. Create a fun and whimsical fairy garden in a brightly colored glazed pot.
Choose a style for the fairy garden. Woodland fairy gardens use natural-looking items or things found in nature for furniture and garden ornaments; formal gardens include garden ornaments like urns and garden walls; cottage fairy gardens are filled with flowers surrounding humble fairy abodes; and whimsical gardens utilize fun and funky décor in bright colors.
Learn more about fairy gardening at the Fairy Garden Festival at The Planter's Palette in Winfield from Saturday, June 20, through Sunday, June 28. Many fairy gardens will be on display throughout the festival including a three-level fairy garden treehouse, a down-on-the-farm fairy garden, a shady fairy retreat complete with waterfall and stream, knothole fairy gardens, and lots more.
The festival begins with free face painting from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, followed by a fairy parade with kids dressed in their fairy finery at 10 a.m. All parade participants will receive a certificate for 10% off all fairy garden merchandise purchased that day.
Enjoy make-and-take workshops held throughout the week. Make a hypertufa trough or a large fairy garden to take home. Create a mosaic fairy house or paint a fanciful fairy garden painting under the direction of visiting local artists.
Attend the Fairy Garden Tea Party where fairy stories are shared before making a small fairy garden to take home. Take a guided tour of the gardens or tour them on your own.
More information is available on The Planter's Palette website at www.planterspalette.com or by calling (630 )93-1040, ext. 2.
Believing in fairies is not required to join in the fun at the Fairy Garden Festival, but it will be more delightful if you do. Go ahead, join the fairy frenzy!
Saturday, June 20
9:15- 9:45 a.m. Face Painting
10-10:30 a.m. Fairy Parade
1-2 p.m. Hypertufa Trough Make & Take Workshop
Sunday, June 21
1-2 p.m. Fairy Garden Make & Take Workshop
Monday, June 22
1-2 p.m. Butterfly Garden Make & Take Workshop
Tuesday, June 23
10-10:30 a.m. Guided Tour of Fairy Gardens
1-3 p.m. Fairy Garden Painting Paint & Take Workshop
Wednesday, June 24
1-2 p.m. Fairy Garden Tea Party
Thursday, June 25
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mosaic Fairy House Make & Take Workshop
Friday, June 26
10-10:30 a.m. Guided Tour of Fairy Gardens
Saturday, June 27
1-2 p.m. Take Your Fairy Gardens Up a Notch
Sunday, June 28
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mosaic Fairy House Make & Take Workshop
• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.