April Fairy Gardens

Tiny fairy gardens can thrive in almost any container!

[Special byline: new member Kammie contributed this article!]

Our April meeting was held at the Godnick Center and was well attended: 40 members, 2 guests, and 4 new members. The meeting began with items of interest, including the May 17 Plant & Bake Sale and Downtown Pansy Planting event which happened on Monday, April 14.

The Guest Speaker was Dian Mathews of Keene, NH who says “it is ok to play” when building a terrarium or fairy garden. Dian (pronounced, “Diane” and quite possibly part-Fairy) spoke in front of a lush green spread of her container garden creations – healthy green leaves of all kinds living harmoniously among a collection of adorable, keepsake objects.

Create entire worlds with plants, furnishings, and even a tiny martin birdhouse!

 She said these mini container gardens were a result of having to downsize and figure out a creative way to save her plants and the beloved objects that she wasn’t willing to part with as a result of relocating.

Dian passed around this super lightweight container - a secret styrofoam base, with small inserts for plants

To add to it, she showed us that keeping your life’s precious things doesn't have to be a weighty situation as she passed around a 12” planter pot that weighed about 14 oz and was full of vibrant color and life.

Her secret method started with styrofoam peanuts and upside down planter pots to create the “fill”, then ziplock baggies for the plantings inserted into the dry dirt. She explained that plants can live in tight quarters when using a mix of sand, pumice, perlite and compost and coconut coir, instead of peat as suggested by Rodale Institute.

 “Create an atmosphere where the plants don't grow out of their pots,” she said, “when you build a tiny plant garden or terrarium, you are giving your plant a house with furniture to live with,” applying to both inside and outside gardens of any size.

She then shifted to sharing four or five fascinating stories that involved fairies and other forest-dwelling little people from New England, Ireland and Egypt. She shared excerpts from Tovah Martin’s new book, The New Terrarium and Lady Cottington’s Pressed Fairy Book by Terry Jones.

Five succulents make up this little garden, along with keepsake items that evoke a happy memory.

Dian definitely planted some seeds of creativity among the group. Overall, it was a very rewarding and beneficial time.

A rapt audience!

Our Hospitality Committee's delicious spring sandwiches...

Always a place on our buffet for an adventurous design.

Dian's fairy seaside scene, with tiny grasses.

She only needs one pansy in a fantasy fairy teacup...

And to close, a fairy tapestry....