skip to main content

Fairy Tale Garden

14 years ago

Thank you all for your ideas with fairy gardens, but this time I'm asking about fairy tale gardens. Does anyone have any ideas how to incorporate fairy tales, or other well-known children's stories into the garden?

One idea I saw on the Internet, was to grow climbing beans on a narrow, four foot teepee, so they grew together and looked like a beanstalk. They put a small house at the bottom of the beanstalk, a little figure for "Jack" climbing the beanstalk, and a bigger figure for "the Giant" at the top of the beanstalk. I thought this was a cute idea and a good way to get children involved in gardening.

I have also posted this on the Gardening with Kids forum, but I thought you all might have some great ideas here. Thanks for the help!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

susiewantsroses
14 years ago
Many Garden Junkers plant in boots and shoes. I imagine it woud be pretty easy to come up with an idea to suit the "Old Woman who lived in a shoe". I'd use "Chicks and Hens" plants. "Jack and Jill" a pail could have the name Jack and Jill painted on it and be used as a planter. Also a faux water well could be planted with strawberries. Calamity Jane is doing a fab Humpty Dumpty Garden display.
Calamity_J
14 years ago
Yup! I am gonna finish Humpty...build him a wall to sit on too...and then make a Old Shoe that the Lady lived in...it will be about 3ft tall and 3ft long and 2ft wide...with stained glass windows and it will light up at night!!! And have a yard with garden art in it!!!lol! Oh ya, I'm into the Fairytale theme!ha! This is all after I get my Throne done/pond made/front entry mosaiced...hmmm...I may be busy for a while.....LOL!...oh, ya, let's not forget Yoda too!!!sheesh!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:183021}}
Related Discussions
Cottage Gardening philosophy?
Q
Comments (12)
In reference to floweryearth's question, I wish I was that cool, but no. My real name is Darlene and my childhood best friend was trying to rhyme something with my name-mind you we were 8 at the time. I have realized that I would prefer a stroll through my garden to see what is in bloom instead of avoiding areas entirely. I have a pretty good sized lot (1/4 acre), so I have some room to be creative. I've been dreaming of this garden I am planning for 6 years. I started out with a little porch garden on a postage stamp slab outside my first apartment, then later had a rental house where I just filled in the holes. I learned so much from that house, so it makes me that much more intensive about planning. Practical things, like how to get a wheel barrel successfully across a yard without going through an obstacle course. As for time, energy, and money--I don't have any children and I've just graduated from college after 7 years studying for my horticulture degree, I've got nothing but time now...finally! I'm one of those gardening nuts who is in their garden nearly everday, if just to deadhead or whatever, so that's not a problem. The money issue is interesting because recently I was hired by a top retail mail-order nursery and I get a 50% discount, so that helps. Having said all that, it makes my possibilities endless, but difficult to narrow down. I constantly become overwhelmed by the choices I have. It's great to have advice from all of you to help make these decisions. So thank you.
...See More
WOWEE! Christmas in July - I got a deal! - warning - lots of pics
Q
Comments (8)
Koidom, Send me an email if you'd like to get in on the deal. I think he has a few pkgs left! Everybody, I'll post update pics when I get a chance. Right now I'm expanding two beds and putting another small new one in. Char
...See More
Hosta Theme Gardens
Q
Comments (11)
I have created a Rock and Roll section of my garden that are hostas that share a name with a song. So far I've acquired Barbara Ann, Blue Hawaii, Dancing Queen, Earth Angel, Hanky Panky, Heat Wave, Judy Blue Eyes, Little Town Flirt, Lovely Rita, Mamma Mia, Penny Lane, Purple Haze, Reflections, Revolution, Satisfaction, Sergeant Pepper, Summer Breeze, and Wishing Well.
...See More
OT- Does anyone else still like fairy tales?
Q
Comments (18)
Unfortunately, no. I have a little pebble-bottomed stream bed that goes from the downspout under the Japanese Maple, through the flower bed, to the lawn. It suffers from neglect. I looked at by pbase album and am ashamed to say that the garden looked better when the pictures were taken than they did this year. Two years of no energy or time left over for the garden have taken their toll. Plus, this spring, when one's fancy turns to gardens, I was being told I would have to dig mine up! Maybe next year.
...See More
excessfroufrou
14 years ago
I don't have any fairytale ideas, but I am working on a miniture "Wizard of Oz" garden.It will have/has an Emerald City,Yellow Brick Road, and the Ruby Slippers, with dwarf mondo grass,and other small plantings. I admire Calamity's giant efforts,great,but things on a small scale are much easier for me, space-wise also.You can tuck a whole little theme into a small flower bed or corner.
Syble
lavender_lass
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you for the great ideas! I'd love to see pictures when you all finish.

Syble, I did see the Wizard of Oz on the Fairy tale list I was looking at on the Internet yesterday. It was listed as an American fairy tale and it's always been one of my favorites :)
catalinagrey
14 years ago
I have always wanted to get a cheap 2 step plastic playhouse and paint it to look like Snow White's cottage.

I see the playhouses at garage sales every once in a while, but they sell so fast!
It would be fun to make the roof look like straw and paint the walls to look like stones. And maybe have a little stone path up to the door.

And with a couple cute little dwarf statues peeking out from behind some flowers.

You could have a whole village of fairy tale cottages!
TwoMonths
14 years ago
At the top of the thread page, you can do a search of this site and find lots of postings....'fairy gardens'

But meanwhile you can check out this site of cool ones.

Here is a link that might be useful: luvs 2 click was cold and bored
north40
14 years ago
I have the White Hare from Alice in wonderland. After a storm in 2005 took down a few oak trees, we made a fake door with hinges and door handle and nailed it to one of the stumps. I added a rock pathway and placed the rabbit near the door. It's still a work in progress. I'm not sure what else I'll add.
lavender_lass
Original Author
14 years ago
These are all such great ideas! I don't know where to start :) I thought the Princess and the Pea would be cute, but I'm not sure how to display this...any suggestions?

The Snow White cottage would be so cute and Alice in Wonderland, what a creative way to use a tree stump. Humpty Dumpty and the Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe, Jack and Jill, they're all great possiblities. I hope Calamity Jane posts some pictures when she's done!

Related Stories

FUN HOUZZ 14 Gardens Straight Out of Fairy Tales

By Luisa Rollenhagen

Escape into landscapes that conjure the magical worlds of folklore and literature

HOUZZ TOURS Visit a Victorian Fairy-Tale Retreat in the Woods

This renovated cabin is an ultra-feminine getaway

TRAVEL BY DESIGN Live a Fairy Tale in a Getaway Castle Tower

By Dorman Architects

Let down your hair or just savor the idyllic views. In these 5 remodeled European towers, how the story goes is up to you

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Fairy-Tale Charm in a Historic Hollywood Landmark

By Carolyn Reyes

Just a stone’s throw away from Hollywood Boulevard, vine-covered walls hide a magical courtyard and a couple’s condo

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Fairy Tale Gatehouse in Minnesota

By Becky Harris

This cozy cottage in Minnesota blends fine antiques with reclaimed materials from bridge pilings, city streets and Midwestern barns

KITCHEN DESIGN Magic Mirrors Emerge From Fairy Tales

Amazing advancements in computers, interfaces and glass point to a future in which smart surfaces are commonplace in the home

DECORATING GUIDES 11 Fairy-Tale Bedroom Flourishes to Fall in Love With

By Susan Redman

Add an enchanting finishing touch to a luxurious boudoir with these pretty accessories and small furnishings

GARDENING GUIDES Gardening Fun: Plant a Fairy Garden

By Alison Hodgson

It’s hard not to be captivated by the charm of a miniature garden in a pot. Here’s how to make one of your own

SHRUBS Great Design Plant: Baja Fairy Duster, a Scarlet Stunner

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Bright red puffball flowers are the main attraction here; consider the minimal care a bonus

LIFE You Said It: ‘This House Is Keeping It Real’ and More Houzz Quotables

By Becky Harris

This week the most-popular lists surprised, and a group of magical landscapes had us dreaming of fairy tales

Sponsored

RTS Home Solutions

3 Reviews

BIA of Central Ohio Award Winning Contractor

More Discussions

Any ideas for repurposing Water Softener Systems?

4