A Wedding in the Miniature Garden

When it comes to the world of fairy gardens, I am a bit of a novice. Dollhouses and mini figurines were passions of mine in childhood and beyond, but my lack of a green thumb has kept me from expanding that interest into the garden world.  All that seems to have changed, however, since I was recently gifted a stunning miniature container garden!

The wedding-themed fairy garden was not just any gift, but a present for members of a bridal party. One of my best friends got married to the love of her life this summer, and they decided to do unique gifts for the party. Instead of the usual jewelry, robe, or glassware, each bridesmaid received her own container fairy garden, made with love by the bride. I had not expected such an interesting or thoughtful gift—my friend was hardly a bridezilla, so she certainly did not need to charm us or apologize with presents! However, Chelsea (the bride) explained that the miniature gardens were the most delightful gifts to make.

Chelsea started with four identical containers for the four bridesmaids. She worked on them like an assembly line, first filling the pots with soil, then adding succulent miniature plants, moss, and pebbles. A miniature-garden-turned-bridal-party-gift has the opportunity to be incredibly personal, as you can add whatever miniature plants and garden accessories you think the friend would enjoy. Mine happened to come with a tiny toadstool, sparkly rocks, and adorable bunnies. What was the highlight of this unique gift? It was the fairy bride and groom, poised and ready to exchange their vows.

One of my favorite miniature accessories in my new fairy garden is a mini hedgehog. This garden friend sits delicately on a leaf, watching the wedding. The hedgehog has a sentimental meaning to me because Bride Chelsea and her new husband actually own a hedgehog as a pet! This little critter makes the garden an extra-special reminder of their new little family.

Planning a miniature garden in a container is one of the best choices for bridal party gifts on both sides of the aisle. Groomsmen will have fun with their gardens, especially if they are personalized to match the hobbies and interests of each friend. A miniature garden themed around classic cars, sports, a day at the beach, or even backyard grilling could be a suitable match for any groomsman. If you choose to fill your containers with succulents or cacti, the gardens can be extremely low-maintenance for those who lack gardening skills, much like me. The three mini succulents in my new garden need love and care, but I do not need to worry too much about them. Regular watering and some sunlight will do just fine.

Now that I have my very own miniature garden, I have already decided to add to the fun. I have a collection of glass animals that were passed down to me from my grandmother. The turtles were always her favorite, and they matched with the backyard wilderness-wedding theme of my garden, so I carefully added them to the mix. I cannot wait to collect more miniature accessories, watch the miniature plants grow, and plant fairy gardens to give as gifts in the future.