It's fairy garden time. I will be planting and imagining what the fairies will desire in my yard this year. I continue adding to the gardens each year. In my large garden nestled under my big sugar maple, I am adding more houses and festoons. The corner tree is perfect for all the children of the neighbor to visit the "big" fairy garden and climb the tree and see the garden from a different perspective. It is the highlight of summer walks with the family for the neighbors.

The big maple tree has a wooden owl face affixed to the trunk so that its wisdom overlooks the fairy houses and hopefully all the kids will treat it with respect. Mulch, moss, and stones line the area that is surrounded by an embellished white wire fence (fairy height of course). If you want to enter the area, you have to be small enough to walk through the twig archway made from the fallen limbs from our trees. We have added small garden lights for the late night visitors.

In the fairy town you will see houses, businesses like fairy dust and fairy wing shops, a band shell, churches, and troll huts. There are also hanging banners and a fairy dwelling suspended from the low branches. One little cabin has a place to find a piece of paper, write a note, and wait for a fairy to answer. On magical nights, fairies visit and sometime leave trinkets for curious children.

Once you have made one fairy garden, it is difficult to stop with just one. I have lost count. . . my house has six or more. Smaller gardens can be assembled in any kind of a container, small or large: leaky birdbath tops, Weber grill lids, an old wheelbarrow, a large pot, or even wheel hubs. The container is secondary to what you put in it. From homemade or collected objects to store bought, elegant fairy paraphernalia, anything goes in this kind of garden. Begin with a base of sand, rocks, or plastic packing peanuts for drainage. Add good potting soil. You can either landscape the area first or put in your houses, birdbaths, rocks, tables/chairs, figurines and then add plants.

The landscape doesn't require many plants. I use some from my yard like miniature hostas, mosses, violets, and ground cover. A small rosemary plant makes a great tree and different thymes are just the right touch. Local nurseries usually have wonderful selections of small flowers to add delight. Watering and pruning is required for the maintenance of your garden. Be sure to provide some shade so that the plants will not perish in the hot sun. My gardens are in fairly heavy shade. What's also fun as a fairy garden landlord is the collecting of items for the garden all summer long. You will be amazed at how jammed it can get! The garden can continue to change for the seasons. Add a flag, a pond, a pumpkin, or a scarecrow.

Summer is the high season for fairies. Your garden works like a charm as a conversation starter for visitors, and you will want to invite passersby to stop and admire your handiwork. And the best part about a fairy gardening is that sometimes, if you are lucky, you just might catch a glimpse of a fairy visiting.