Gardeners Dream Up Ways to Attract Fairies

Having just returned from a trip to Ireland, I am especially excited about this Saturday’s “Small Giants” seminar at in Fenton. The event is all about miniature gardening with gigantic possibilities and will draw everyone from dwarf-gardening enthusiasts to fairy fans.

I wasn’t a true fairy believer until recently strolling the grounds of the John F. Kennedy Arboretum in County Wexford, Ireland. There, I stumbled upon a tiny fairy fort without knowing it. A little moss-covered opening at the base of a towering tree beckoned me to come closer. Up against the intriguing, hollowed area leaned a couple of twigs on an angle.

No sooner did I move the little sticks when my fairy-loving sister, Cathy, cried, “Megan! Put those sticks down! Place them as they were! How do you suppose the fairies will get back into their home?”

OK. Uhhh … fairies?

Then we met Bob, a sharp engineer from New York. He was seriously wandering the magical arboretum grounds in search of fairy forts. The next day, our tour guide, Tom Casey, straight from Ireland’s Ring of Kerry of County Kerry, told us about trees that had been cut down by builders only to grow back, well, the “fairy” next morning (the trees were apparently home to groups of fairies).

OK, Cathy, Bob, Tom ... I’m a believer! Once back from the Emerald Isle, I learned that fairy lore has happily drifted into the great lakes state.

Carol Czechowski of Bloomfield Township recently held a seminar at in Troy. She lead participants through the tantalizing lore and practical practices of miniature fairy gardens. She’s also a fan of Heavenly Scent Herb Farm.

“One of my favorite containers for a fairy garden came from Heavenly Scent,” Czechowski said. “Steve (at Heavenly Scent) made low-sided wooden boxes with round ball feet and painted them soft colors a fairy would love. Mine is lavender and yellow.”

Czechowski says that as a young girl, she often saw fairy. “Now that I’m older, not so much. But that does not diminish my pleasure in creating a special place for fairies in my gardens because I know they are there.”

And just how do you know the wee sprites have visited your garden? “Pay attention to the signs,” explained Czechowski, “as you did when you found the fairy fort in Ireland.”

Fairy Plants, Tips and Lore

Contain Yourself!  “I like hypertufa containers because their rough texture is pleasing in a fairy garden,” said fairy enthusiast Carol Czechowski.

Pleasing Plants: Czechowski’s favorite plants are Lemon Thyme and Ground Geranium.

Forget About Size: Fairies don’t care about the size of your garden. “If you have limited space or are in a condo and just have a patio, container gardening is great for attracting fairies,” said Czechowski.

“I have a small garden in my side yard and my 6-year-old daughter has gathered twigs and pinecones to start a fairy garden beneath some pines,” added Lisa Clark of Beverly Hills. 

“We have 2 fairy doors — one in our mudroom and one on our front porch," Clark explained. "Enchanted things are often found by my kids on summer mornings, making lovely memories, I hope.”

Go Online: Czechowski recommends visiting www.fairyhouses.com, Tracy Kane’s website that explores books, DVDs, etc.  

Expand Your Horizons: Explore a variety of garden centers and nurseries. Check out in Troy for a “wonderful collection of fairy garden art to plants,” said Czechowski. “They love fairy lore over there.”

“I love the variety of garden plants, sculptures and seasonal merchandise at Heavenly Scent,” added Coral Adas, president of the . “They have a wonderful variety of classes that they offer (including the “Small Giants” one this Saturday), as well as workshops on seasonal themes. Heavenly Scent is a treat for all gardeners and gift shoppers.”

Ginny Brown of the Grosse Pointe Garden Center in Grosse Pointe Farms recommends in Macomb. “They have a nice display of items,” said Brown. “I personally think faerie gardens are delightful,” added the flower fan, who soon will be preparing for the Grosse Pointe Garden Center-sponsored annual garden tour, which runs June 23-24.   

Interested in learning more about Northville's fairy activities? Check out our previous story.