Creating an English inspired botanical fairy garden in an outdoor space, and tending it with love, is an aesthetic tradition that has been around for hundreds of years. The people of 13th century England repeated the stories that came down through the ages, and believed that fairies were spirits that dwelled in nature who kept a garden space safe from evil. The 19th century Brothers Grimm revived many of the old tales and helped to evolve the ancient fables into the stories of magic and the supernatural that we read to our children today. A fairy garden theme in your outdoor garden decor combines history and folklore, and inspires childlike imagination, so what’s not to love?
Children have grown to love everything about the custom learned from their mothers and grandmothers of creating a fairy garden in the yard, including the anticipation of discovering thrilling evidence of a fairy, such as little footprints or miniature shoes left behind. It is a fun and happy tradition that always brings smiles, and deserves to be kept alive and passed down from one generation to the next.
Fairy garden history in our oldest cultures goes back several thousands of years with miniature houses put outside of the home so that the nature spirits would be welcome to stay and bring good luck. Living conditions of the common people in ancient times were unhealthy and difficult. Planting a home garden ensured a source of medicinal plants that would keep misfortune away, and bring good luck to the family. The planting of individual gardens became common to provide a healthy source of food and ambience for the family home. It was thought that by creating an inviting outdoor garden, fairies would come to stay there, protect the garden, and help it thrive. Fairy houses in your own yard are most welcoming to the nature spirits if they are in a hidden, out of the way, quiet place in the garden.
The deep root of fairy culture in art, songs and poetry goes back to the ancient spoken word stories of a benevolent race that descended from primordial gods and goddesses. The nature spirits are said to live in woodland communities, underground kingdoms, in lakes and hills, and in circles of stone or grass. Fairies are symbolic of the love and compassion that come from higher mystical realms, and are believed to be spirit guides, helping to bring peace and joy to the earthly world.
Over the years, many creative ideas have emerged to entice the fairies to come and stay. A variety of materials have been used to create sculpture gardens and miniature fairy house villages. English garden themed planter boxes and water fountains add a magical ambiance to make the home and garden even more inviting. The possibilities are endless to the creative mind, but below are some of our favorite pieces to help you create your own dreamy botanical English garden with miniature fairy garden decor.
Create a magical spot in your garden to honor the nature spirits, invite the fairies and let your imagination run wild!
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939)
