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Make a
fairy garden for your kid's party
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by:
Patricia B. Jensen
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This project is a truly unique kids party
activity, combining fun, fantasy, and learning. Kids love getting their
hands dirty and learning how things grow. They will also love the idea
of making a magical garden place for a fairy to live.
A miniature garden takes little space and can rest on a tabletop.
Maintenance requires only a light misting from time to time and
watching for fairies to come to call. Just kidding about that last
part, but you never know...
Start by collecting various containers such as woven baskets, large
shallow bowls or deep
dish clay saucers (like a birdbath), or even discarded bureau drawers.
Check yard sales for
innovative ideas and inexpensive materials.
Next, supply potting soil and a selection of small plants that will
reach under a foot when
fully grown. Dwarf zinnias, marigolds, violets, ivy, baby's tears and
sprigs of vinca are all good choices. There are many types of mosses
that will work nicely too, fitting into corners and small areas easily
to add texture and interest. A variety of low-growing herbs such as
thyme and rosemary lend aroma to the mix as well.
Start by lining your garden container with heavy duty plastic, fill to
within an inch of the top with potting soil then kids are ready to
landscape the top. Let them choose their favorite diminutive plants,
interspersing them with various materials to add charm and character to
the fairy garden.
For example, turn a colorful plant pot on its side and submerge it
halfway in the soil to serve as a proper fairy dwelling. Add dollhouse
sized furniture to set in the garden, popsicle sticks to construct a
fairy fence, or small flat rocks to make a wonderful stepping stone
path.
A small mirror symbolizing water making a faux gazing pool. The round
flat glass beads
used in vases make nice accent pieces too. Tiny garden accessories like
terra cotta pots and
shovels give your garden a "lived-in" look.
Fairy gardens needn't be for little girls only. Boys can make a
miniature dinosaur den using many of the same materials. Herbs, moss
and other green plants can make a forest or wooded area in which small
plastic dinosaurs return from extinction to live another day. Soil
mounded to one side forms a volcano, spilling red aquarium stone lava.
A construction site garden is another option for boys. Tiny rocks,
stick logs, and craft stick lumber can be stacked up waiting for the
big rigs to move them. Small toy bulldozers and cranes can be scattered
about, among the plantings.
These whimsical gardens can go wherever your child's imagination takes
them. You provide the materials, they supply the ideas and creativity.
Planting and maintaining a miniature
garden teaches kids about plants, caring for living things, and most
all the fun of gardening.
Copyright 2005 Kids Party Paradise All Rights Reserved
About the author:
Patricia B. Jensen is a mother of three and kids party enthusiast. She
is the webmaster and owner of Kids-Party-Paradise.com
- a complete resource for kids party ideas including invitations,
cakes, decorations, games, costumes, favors, and food.
For all the latest party news, read her Kids
Party Blog.
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