I’m always looking for ways to re-use and recycle items that I come across. Of course I love style and fashion but, once in a while, I get an idea to make something beautiful for my home, too. Growing up on a farm, I have an immense appreciation for gardening and the great outdoors. What if we could bring some of that green beauty right inside our homes or apartments?

While visiting my 84 year old mother Audrey, she told me that we were to attend her garden club meeting and I would need to bring a shallow container to use as a planter. I chose an off-white Haeger pottery piece that I purchased at Goodwill for $2.99. When mom and I arrived for the club meeting, we were greeted by Tammy, the owner of Natural Havens (www.NaturalHavens.net). It is a company that helps people enjoy natural spaces in a unique way by teaching them how to create their own “fairy gardens” using containers they might already have at home.

Here’s what you’ll need to build yours!

1. Select a container. The best ones have a large open surface area so you can add lots of plants and accessories.
   
   
2. Cover the bottom of the container with a thin layer of gravel for drainage.
   
   
3. Choose your plants. Tammy suggests using groundcovers such as Scotch or Irish Moss, Creeping Thyme, Baby Tears, or Corsican Mint. Keep in mind that you’ll need to have a variety of plants that stay rather small so they won’t overwhelm your “landscaping.” Other plants suggested are Hens & Chicks, Blue Mouse Ears hosta, Polka-dot Plant, Sedum Fairy Pink, Angel Vine, Alyssum, and Boxwood Honeysuckle. Remember to select plants that have the same light and water requirements.
   
   
4. Once you have added the soil to the gravel in your container, it’s time to plan your garden! I decided to use Baby Tears and a few Hens & Chicks in my landscape plan. I also laid out some beautiful blue glass pebbles that helped create the look of water running through my “garden.” Once that was done, and I had firmly pressed the roots into the soil, I was ready to place the pewter fairy into her new home! She looks great standing next to the stream, just watching over the “garden.”
   
   
5. Be sure to maintain your garden as you would a larger one. Water when the soil is dried out, taking care not to drown your plants! Use scissors or pruning shears to trim back plants so they stay small.
   
   
6. Be creative and have some fun!

With a little water and strategic placement where it would get the proper amount of light, my new garden was done! I placed it on a white sideboard in my kitchen on a round mirror that helps reflect the light. I love it! You could also swap out the fairy for action figures or even porcelain pieces that you find at the Goodwill Retail Store & Donation Center near you.

If you don’t have a gardening bone in your body, you could also look for smallish faux plants to use, using florist’s foam and peat moss instead of the soil and gravel. It just goes to show that re-using and re-purposing can fashion beautiful things for your home that will help to satisfy your green thumb until we can get busy outdoors!

askbjorn@goodwillsew.com

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Photography by
John Grant Photography