 Moss and Flower Fairy Once upon a time, long, long ago, little people were said to populate gardens. They were known as fairies, elves, or leprechauns. Today, the most popular stories are of the garden fairies. They are enticed to visit tiny landscapes, either in the ground or in pots created for them with miniature plants, furniture, and garden tools. These are the perfect display gardens for all things small. Many cultures pass down stories of “faeries.” Wicked faeries were once known as netherworld creatures, godless and unable to enter heaven, causing all manner of evil wrongs to humans. As might be imagined, these are not welcome in gardens. Instead, small creatures who care for birds, collect feathers and bells, and dance in the moonlight are encouraged to visit the small worlds created for them in these miniature landscaped Edens. A deeply religious woman, Cicely Mary Barker, popularized flower fairies. She published a series of Flower Fairy books, the first in 1923. These books dance with fairies and flowers, and sing with poetry. Barker died in 1973, leaving a legacy of books as popular today as when they were first introduced.  Trough gardens have become hugely popular, making a proper setting for a miniature Flower Fairy garden. Most troughs are not original water or feed vessels rescued from abandoned farms, but are made of hypertufa, a lighter weight stone-like substance, often made by gardeners. Many Internet sites offer instructions for making and using hypertufa, such as this one from Fine Gardening magazine: http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/how-to/articles/make-hypertufa-trough.aspx.
You can fill these pots with any dwarf shrub or plant. One trick is to bury the pot holding a small plant into the trough to restrict its root growth. You then can treat it like you would a bonsai, holding back its development by trimming and pinching. The most fun comes from planting and then accessorizing these little landscapes. You will want to start by filling the trough with good draining soil.  Succulents Sedums are succulents that can have fleshy large leaves, making them good sun plants, or tiny leaves, which are more shade tolerant. Dwarf rhododendrons, Japanese maples, dwarf cotoneaster, dwarf pieris, rush, and blue star creeper all make lovely little landscapes. Fairies love the herb, thyme. The open texture of Selaginella kraussiana, the club moss fern, is an excellent backdrop for many small plants. Trough or Fairy Gardens appeal to our inner child and our children and grandchildren. What child does not love make-believe? Children are enchanted with tales of magic and fairies. Put together the makings of a Fairy Garden and let the children in your life plant and arrange the garden. What could be a better experience for them than sunshine and flowers? Miniature plants for Fairy Gardens: ---Posted by Coach Anne June 19 2008---
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