Gardening Articles and Ezines
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1. The Importance of Low Maintenance Lawns
July 22, 2021
It is a vital part of owning a garden to take good care of your lawn, they add a softness to the garden and can be very nice to look at. Lawn care services are important as your lawn can easily take a lot of damage through everyday life. When looking for lawn services Hampshire has to offer, it is important that you find the best lawn care Hampshire has to offer as a lot of companies do not properly understand the importance of good lawn care. Care It is important that you care for your lawn properly as neglected lawns will just die and cease to exist. It never looks good to have giant ... (read more)
Author: Richard Conard
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2. Designing a Magical Place
July 14, 2021
In the gardening world, bigger is often thought to be better—blousy peonies, so heavy they bend under their own weight… Casa Blanca lilies on stems that rise to the height of children.... These are what make many gardeners’ eyes light up. But enter the world of the fairy garden—a display of dainty specimens often made smaller through trimming and division to mimic the trees, shrubs, and plantings of the larger world on a magically reduced scale—and you will be charmed on a new level.
Bend low, peer down a pathway of small Boxwoods trimmed Bonsai-style to create a hedgerow, pass by a self-... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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3. Garden Time is Family Time
July 05, 2021
Shh. Do you hear that? It is the sweet sound of silence! I love a quiet morning in my miniature garden, with hours spent weeding, watering, and admiring my miniature plants. I never feel completely alone, because I have all of my fairy friends with me, but it is nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the social summertime.
Do you crave alone time in the miniature garden? I usually do, but this year, I have been searching for some ways to involve my family members in my fairy gardening hobby. After months spent apart, we are finally able to spend time together again. A couple o... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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4. Growing a Collection of Miniature Plants
July 01, 2021
Do you have a favorite miniature plant? It is a hard question, I know. It is especially difficult to choose a favorite miniature plant if you, like me, have a large (and ever-growing) collection of fairy garden plants. Is it the Bonsai tree that arches over the neighborhood of fairy houses? Is it the colorful cactus, the delicate flowers, or maybe even the groundcover plant you never thought would flourish?
This year, I have been thinking about what it means to have a “favorite” miniature plant, especially after reading Tiny Plants by Leslie F. Halleck, an exploration of miniature gardeni... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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5. Why Grow Miniature Plants?
June 28, 2021
Over the years, my house, porch, and garden have been happy homes for all sorts of plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees. These have ranged from the tropical to the evergreen, and everything in between. At times, my family members and friends have asked me, “Why do you grow fairy garden plants-- specifically?” They wonder why I do not just stick with “life-size” plants, especially because miniature plants and trees are so unique, with their own needs. And I talk about them all the time, so they seem to require plenty of care-right?
In truth, miniature plants are easy to care for, decidedly c... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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6. Consider Cacti for the Fairy Garden
June 26, 2021
Each and every miniature garden has its own personality. Some are filled with miniature trees that mimic the big branches and green leaves of life-size parks and gardens. Others assemble mini succulents or colorful flowers. This summer, I have been experimenting with a unique miniature plant that used to make me nervous: the cactus! Cacti, even on a miniature scale, can be intimidating with their strange shapes and spiky spines. But, when properly planted and cared for, they actually make some of the most beautiful and creative miniature gardens. Keep reading to find out how to plant a cactus ... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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7. Colorful Trends in the Miniature Garden
May 31, 2021
The sun is shining and the plants are in full bloom. Summer is finally here! This year, I find myself marveling at the deep green leaves on the trees, the crystal-clear water on the lake, and the bright, friendly flower petals that decorate my neighborhood. After a difficult year, it feels like the whole world is waking up and bursting with life. What do you have planned for your miniature garden this year? As you make plans for new miniature trees and plants, vibrant flowers, and miniature accessories, you may want to consider some of the colorful trends that are sprouting up in fairy gardens... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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8. Grow a Fairy Garden in a Planter Box
May 31, 2021
Fairy gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Teeny-tiny plant pots, hanging baskets full of cascading miniature plants, and even huge, wild gardens tucked away in woodsy areas. Whether you are planning out your very first foray into miniature gardening, or if you have been living amongst the fairies for some time now, there are always decisions to make. How big will your garden be? Where will it grow? Who will see it? This year, I have been experimenting with miniature gardens in reclaimed wood planter boxes, and I think I have fallen in love! Small containers and flower beds still have my hear... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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9. Shh...The Fairies are Sleeping!
May 23, 2021
The air smells crisp and clean. Outside, everything is quiet. Shadows play jokes on you against the miniature plants and trees, filling your imagination with stories of trolls and tigers. And summer’s warmth hangs in the air, long after the sun has gone down. Have you ever ventured into the miniature garden after dark? At nighttime, fireflies dance between the leaves—or are those fairy lights? Insects sing sweet midnight songs—or are those the voices of pixies? Take a walk through the fairy garden at night, and you are bound to discover secrets beyond your wildest dreams.
First up on our ... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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10. Grow a Fairy Garden in a Basket
May 23, 2021
Spring has officially “sprung”! The flowers are opening up their smiling faces to the sky. The trees are filling out with green leaves. And the last of the snow has finally melted away. As the temperatures climb and the outdoors become livelier, I will be spending more time on my miniature gardens. After months of staying inside, I must have also caught the “social bug,” because I have been dreaming up ways to give fairy gardens as gifts to friends and family members I have not seen in months.
When I was a child, we used to participate in an old May Day tradition of leaving flowers on our... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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11. A Trip to the Tiny Seaside
May 03, 2021
It is officially that time of year again. The sunshine is starting to warm the air, the flowers and miniature plants are thriving, and memories of frozen days are being left behind. As the weeks go on and spring gathers momentum, I begin to get the “itch” for a trip to the seaside. Does this happen to you? Every spring, like clockwork, I start to crave the warm sand on my toes, the taste of salt on my tongue, and even the sounds of surfer rock drifting out of boardwalk shops. I am overdue for some time by the water!
It may not be time to pack up the car and head to the coast quite yet, bu... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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12. Uh-Oh: Mischief in the Miniature Garden!
May 03, 2021
It is an age-old adage, but it is true. Laughter is good for the soul. These days, I am keeping my eyes wide open for jokes, tricks, moments of whimsy, and split seconds of silliness. Laughter keeps me going when the days are tough and the skies are grey. If your heart has been hurting this year, perhaps you could use a good chuckle. April Fool’s Day may have passed, but there are always opportunities for a little mischief in the miniature garden.
Making Messes
Peer through the miniature plants’ green leaves and duck under the branches of the miniature trees. Through the meadow and ... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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13. Essential Supplies for the Fairy Garden
May 03, 2021
Quick! Spring break is over, the little ones are busy with school, the holidays have wrapped up, and summer fun has not gotten underway quite yet. Do you know what that means? There is finally some time to work on the projects we have all been putting off. From home projects to hobbies, everyone has a few things that have fallen to the bottom of the list. But at last, this in-between season offers a bit of quiet time to clean, organize, DIY, and yes—garden!
This spring, I am excited to get my hands dirty while putting together some new container-based miniature gardens. If you have always... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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14. 4 Ideas for a Memory Garden
April 19, 2021
My miniature garden is my happy place. Whether I am watering and weeding, adding new miniature plants, or giving one of my friends a tour of the fairyhood, I always have a smile on my face. Over the years, though, I have found that the miniature garden can also be the perfect place for quiet reflection, contemplation, and even, from time to time, a good cry! Yes, I have been known to shed a tear or two while working or relaxing in the garden. There is something about the mix of sights, sounds, and smells that jogs the memory and awakens emotions. Lately, I have been planting and planting with ... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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15. Take a Break in the Zen Garden
March 29, 2021
Life speeds up in the springtime. After the long, slow days of winter and weeks spent wishing for sunshine, spring finally arrives, full of new sights, sounds, and smells. The first buds on the trees and flowers on the miniature plants prove that nature is waking up, giving a good stretch, and warming itself up for the months ahead. Sometimes it seems as though, once the daffodils appear, the plants begin a beeline to summer—and everyone else does, too! Before you know it, the school year has wrapped up, baseball is back, and the hottest days of the year have arrived.
Do you ever wish you... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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16. Top 5 Lucky Fairy Garden Finds
March 24, 2021
The gardening life is not all sunshine and rainbows. No matter how many years you have been gardening, you are bound to experience stubborn droughts, rainy days, potting soil spills, pesky pests, and other incidents that are just frustrating enough to ruin an otherwise pleasant day. On the other hand, some days are a gardener’s dream. St. Patrick’s Day has me thinking of all the rainbows, healthy fairy garden plants, smiling faces, and other moments that make even the worst days in the miniature garden worth it. Keep reading to check out five gardening finds that feel like discovering a huge c... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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17. Welcome to the Royal Fairy Garden
March 24, 2021
Hear ye! Hear ye! You are hereby cordially invited to tea time in the royal fairy garden. The Fairy Queen herself has requested your presence at what will surely be a royally delightful miniature garden gathering.
When you arrive in the fairy garden, you will notice the regal golden gates that create an impressive entrance for garden fairies, pixies, and other miniature garden residents. Tall miniature plants and trees tower majestically overhead, greeting teeny-tiny visitors with their green leaves. Look closely, and you may spot the graceful Bonsai trees, a gift from a nearby garden. ... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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18. Rainy Days in the Miniature Garden
March 22, 2021
Splish, splash, it is time for rainy fun in the garden! When winter has rolled up the last of its snowy flakes and blown the cold chill for good, the fairies are ready to make way for spring. Of course, along with the warm sunshine and the first flowers come the drips and drops of rain. There is nothing quite like a warm downpour on a sunny day, especially when followed up by a colorful rainbow. Looking back, rainy days were some of my favorite slices of childhood. Do you remember tugging on your boots and squishing around in the mud puddles? Lately, I have been dreaming of recreating those me... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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19. How to Choose a Fairy Garden Fence
March 05, 2021
When a fairy flutters down into your winter container garden, what does she see? Are there dozens of miniature plants sprouting up from the soil? Are there winding paths to follow—perhaps even one that leads to a fairy cottage? Maybe, if she is lucky, the visiting fairy will spot signposts and twinkling lights that will show her the way. These are just a few details that can make your winter container garden a more welcoming place for wee folk. One of my favorites, and today’s topic: the miniature garden fence.
Let me be clear. My own fairy garden can be a wild place! Winter flowering pla... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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20. Create a Fragrant Miniature Garden
February 22, 2021
Gardeners know the feeling. When you are working in the miniature garden, your senses are hit from all different directions. The feeling of the soft soil, the sound of rustling leaves, and the sight of bright flowers combine to create a rich, multi-layered experience. The smell of the fairy garden, of course, is one of the most memorable parts. If you close your eyes, can you conjure up the scents of sweet flowers, pungent mulch, and fresh grass? Try it!
Throughout this icy, snowy February, while so many of us have been stuck inside, I am longing for the smells of the fairy garden. I have... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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21. From Houseplants to Fairy Houses
February 19, 2021
Calling all homebodies and houseplant enthusiasts! When you think of winter plants and winter container gardens, do you picture the inside of your house, rather than your patio or covered porch? When you “work in the garden,” are you taking care of winter flowering plants on your kitchen counter, rather than kneeling in the chilly backyard? If so, I am right there with you.
Wintertime is such a challenging season. To be honest, spring, summer, and fall are not so easy either! Today, I am writing to those for whom plants and container gardens are an indoor-only hobby. Perhaps your winter p... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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22. Will You Be My Fairy Garden Valentine?
February 19, 2021
Finally, it is February! This January seemed to last for years. But now we are on to a month of football, groundhogs, and Valentines. I have always thought of February as the beginning of the springtime holiday season. Valentine’s Day kicks off a slew of holidays—St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, etc.—that help carry us into warmer weather and sunnier days. During the snowy weeks of waning winter, I hold tight to those holidays, looking to them as a lifeline. Simply put, they give me hope.
This week, I am thinking about Valentine’s Day. While it is often considered a romantic day for couples, I ... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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23. How to Create a Mason Jar Miniature Garden
February 01, 2021
Do you love all-things DIY (do-it-yourself)? Or do you avoid anything even semi-homemade? I can be a little bit of both. If a project has more than a few steps, I know that it is probably not the one for me. That is why I got so excited this week when I discovered a quick and easy DIY project that perfectly aligns with my love for fairy gardens.
Whether you feel confident in the craft room or prefer to let somebody else do the making, you will be able to master the Mason Jar Fairy Garden. If you, like me, have been struggling to make your winter plants thrive outside, a mason jar garden i... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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24. Solutions for the Snowy Season
February 01, 2021
I do not know about you, but it is finally starting to feel like “real” winter in my neck of the woods. The season has been lingering for weeks, but only in the last few days has any of that powdery, wet, wonderful white stuff fallen from the sky in any substantial amount. The grey, chilly days of winter are some of my least favorite, but snow makes up for it. I love the hushed, peaceful feeling of a snowy neighborhood. The children sledding, dogs traipsing through snowbanks, and yes, even the neighbors who give each other a knowing nod as they furiously brush the snow off of their windshields... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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25. Exploring the Winter Woodland Garden
January 29, 2021
There’s nothing quite like a winter day in the woodland garden. The snow falls quietly, piling up on the hardy winter plants. The miniature trees and “life-size” trees stand out against the mounds of icy white snow. Bright berries and winter flowering plants peek out, adding color to an otherwise grey, white, and brown scene. Amidst it all, at the foot of a tree, tiny fairies fly through the air, open and close their fairy doors, and continue to make their home here, even on the coldest and cloudiest of days.
When you think of the woodland fairy garden, you probably imagine the green leav... (read more)
Author: Florence Blum
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