Grow a Fairy Garden in a Basket

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 neighbors’ porches. We would ring the doorbell and run away, hiding around the corner until the neighbor opened the door and saw their springtime surprise. This year’s May Day has already passed, but it could still be fun to surprise some loved ones with the gift of a gorgeous miniature garden. It does not have to be fancy, large, or complicated. In fact, I might just repurpose some old baskets that have been cluttering up my basement. Some are Easter baskets, while others were collected from antique shops, garage sales, and the like. How many unused baskets do you have at home? We can agree to keep each other’s numbers a secret!

Creating a fairy garden in a basket is a quick and easy way to spend an afternoon. Here are some steps to get you started:

1. First, you will want to wipe down your baskets. Remove any dust or dirt. If the basket is looking a little rough, you can apply a few thin coats of spray paint. A glossy paint that matches the basket color will help freshen up the basket and make it look brand new.

2. To protect the baskets and the miniature plants, use a plastic liner. Cut it to fit the bottom of the basket and an inch or two up the sides. It does not have to be perfect. Remember, no one will see the liner! Your fairy garden plants will be in the spotlight, not the soil or the plastic.

3. Cover the liner and fill the basket with high-quality potting soil. The soil should be a bit moist. to start, but not soaked.

4. Now it is time to get creative with miniature plants. Since you might be giving the baskets as gifts, you may want to plant faux plants, or low-maintenance plants, such as succulents or cacti. However, if you are gifting the fairy garden to a gardener—or keeping it for yourself—you can feel free to experiment with tiny groundcovers, colorful flowers, and magnificent miniature trees. A small-leafed ivy is a charming addition, especially if you affix it to the basket handle. Wind it up and around the handle, and then tie it down with some clear fishing line. In time, the miniature plant will grow onto and around the handle on its own.

5. After you have planted the ivy, get creative! Miniature shrubs, trees, and groundcovers will grow into an abundant basket. Baby Tears is an easy-to-care-for groundcover plant that resembles grass. Some gardeners prefer to spread moss on top of the soil for a touch of green.

6. Finally, my favorite part. Fairies! Add some miniature accessories, fairy garden residents, and even a fairy cottage to your basket. Each basket could represent a different scene, such as tea time, veggie patch, or fairy castle. Think about the recipient’s hobbies and passions. Do they like to read? Perhaps you can find a fairy or animal who likes to read. Or stack a few teeny-tiny books on a table. Accessories like fencing, stepping stones, and ponds tie the whole look together.

Ready to gift your basket-based fairy gardens? Set the basket on your friend or family member’s porch, ring the doorbell, hide behind a tree, and get ready to see them smile. This May Day tradition is one of my favorite parts of spring. Tying it to my fairy garden hobby makes it even sweeter. Happy Gardening!