Inspired by Mother Nature and the Woodland Faerie Trail at Zilker Botanical Garden, my daughters (5 and 3) and I created this cute little Fairy Garden in our back yard. The material we used is 80% “au natural” and includes items we found in our yard, our neighborhood, our craft box, and at my favorite new craft store, the Austin Creative Reuse Center.
Our Fairy Garden includes:
- Two Fairy Houses with chairs, table and sofa, lantern, and flower boxes
- Trees
- Paths
- A slide
- Three swings
- A sandbox
- A climbing rope
- Monkey bars
- A zip line
- A hammock
- A wind wheel
Let’s take a closer look.
Fairy House #1
Fairy House #1 makes up the main premises. It’s made out of stone found in the country. Beautiful rocks and sea shells, collected on the shores of Germany and Denmark, adorn the roof and give the house a slight European flair.
The furniture is made out of cork, wood, and leafy leaves.
The orange lantern on the outside came from a bag full of colorful little light bulbs acquired at the Austin Creative Reuse Center.
The flower boxes are made out of expensive ceramic and are the home to bluetiful Mexican Sage and stunning white-flowering Yucca-bells. Both serve aesthetics and the production of fairy food, medicine, and fiber.
The wind wheel, in the carefully chosen color of purple, the color of royalty, and silver, the color of the soothing moon, was a gift from a powerful merchant in fairyland and provides energy and helps keeping their owners up at night.
Sandbox
The sandbox is made out of a giant sea shell and...can you guess what else? Sand, exactly.
Slide and Swings #1 and #2
Next to the main premises, one can find the slide, hand-crafted out of exquisite wood from the surrounding forests and two swings. Sea shells were used for the swing seats which are tied to the tree by necklaces made out of plant fiber originating from the ceramic boxes at the entry of the main house and pearls found in the numerous sea shells used for decoration on the property.
The roof covering parts of the slide are the remains of an UFO that landed here thousands of years ago. The green lantern was installed by the residents at a later point.
Trees
The beautiful brown pine trees were excavated in the city of St. Louis and transported all the way to this enchanted fairy garden in the heart of Texas.
Paths
The paths were lovingly built with more sea shells of different sizes and colors.
Climbing rope
The climbing rope, made out of strong woven fiber, serves as an escape route in case of an emergency, as a way to get up the shady tree to escape the busy life on the ground, and as exercise equipment.
Swing #3
Next to the climbing rope is the precious princess swing decorated with pearls acquired at the Centrum of Austinus Reusicus.
Monkey Bars
Ten strong bars mounted onto two wooden beams can be used as a walkway from the wall that is protecting the fairy garden from mysterious outer dangers to the main tree and zip line. Fitness-addicts also use them as monkey bars.
Zip Line
The zip line serves as a fun ride and an easy way to get down the last part of the tree if the residents are too tired to walk/use the monkey bars. The platform of the zip line are the remains of UFO #2, which came to the rescue of UFO #1 but missed the tree UFO #1 landed on. Now both UFOs are stuck and private property of the fairy garden owners.
Fairy House #2
Fairy House #2 is the guest house and was provided to the residents by a Goodwill-ed merchant. It is beautifully located next to the main tree, has its own little sea shell garden, and allows guests to watch residents and other guests weeeeee-ing down the zip line. All day long.
Hammock
The hammock, made out of expensive satin from the excess length of the bridesmaid dress of a dear fairy friend, is tied to the zip line and the friendly fairy garden greeter (who also serves as a watchman who alerts the residents of approaching danger).
The owners are currently planning an extension of the beautiful resort and expect to be able to present the new additions later this year.
If you have any questions or suggestions for the planned extension, if you require design consultation, or just want to praise our work, please leave a comment on the Book of Many Faces.