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Fairy Garden Handbook
The popularity of fairies and fairy houses has soared, as has the growing movement to get children interested in outdoor activities such as gardening. This new how-to book for parents and kids combines the best of both worlds. It includes basic information for beginning gardeners, such as soil preparation, planting, and watering, then branches into appropriate categories for every fairy
making miniature gardens and terrariums that are just the right size for fairy friends
butterfly and hummingbird gardens to attract these flying friends of fairies
rock gardens
water gardens
wind chimes and prisms to add music and light to your gardens
Sprinkled throughout are bits of fairy lore and garden wisdom. Written for children, or anyone with a child’s heart, and filled with color photographs, the Fairy Garden Handbook will turn curious kids into green thumbs in no time.
making miniature gardens and terrariums that are just the right size for fairy friends
butterfly and hummingbird gardens to attract these flying friends of fairies
rock gardens
water gardens
wind chimes and prisms to add music and light to your gardens
Sprinkled throughout are bits of fairy lore and garden wisdom. Written for children, or anyone with a child’s heart, and filled with color photographs, the Fairy Garden Handbook will turn curious kids into green thumbs in no time.
84 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2013
8 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 15, 2015
This is a delightful glimpse into the world of fairies. Within this book's pages are the special dwelling places one only envisions in dreams.
July 20, 2018
This is a beautiful and inspirational book for children with lovely photographs and text appropriate for early elementary school readers. It contains just enough information to get children started with a fairy garden project, including instructions about crafting simple houses and accessories, as well as choosing plants, and it leaves much to their imaginations. My favorite chapter is entitled "How to Know if Fairies Have Visited Your Garden" because it emphasizes imagination and patience. My seven year old daughter enjoyed a chart in the "Outdoor Fairy Gardens" chapter that explains the magical qualities of plants and their uses for fairies. The book is wonderfully earnest: fairies ARE real, and this is how you build gardens for them to enjoy. Again, this is a children's book; if you are looking for an advanced gardening or crafting book, then this is not for you.
August 27, 2013
More appropriate for younger readers or beginning gardeners. I thought the book was cute for children but did not provide much information of use to mature gardeners who want to jump into the container fairy garden trend.
August 14, 2020
Our library's summer reading program had a craft project to get interested patrons started on fairy gardens, and so had several books on this theme on display. I grabbed three of 'em.
Ignore the reviewers who complained that this was too basic or whatever for them. It's a children's book! Most of the pictures are of little homes and gardens built of found natural materials *by children for fairies.* These are not gardens in the sense that one plants things that one expects to grow. They are very easy crafts.
I appreciate that Walsh respects children. She knows that any child reading this will have wanted to make a fairy garden, but been hesitant. Or maybe the child has made some, but wants tips. She'll meet the children where they're at.
There are rules. Do not uproot moss, as it grows slowly & so is not renewable. Do not mess around in state or national parks. The only living things you should use are flowers, *iff* you have permission. Do not use manmade materials, or materials found from another location (more than a about 5o miles or so roughly, probably). Use acorn cups, small clam shells, corncob floss, fallen leaves, fallen bark, fallen twigs, etc.
And then there is the section to be kind to the neglected goblins and trolls. Make inviting houses for them, too!
Appendices include a glossary, from which I learned that, since saying the word 'fairy' is often considered rude and/or bad luck, one can call them "the gentry."
Ignore the reviewers who complained that this was too basic or whatever for them. It's a children's book! Most of the pictures are of little homes and gardens built of found natural materials *by children for fairies.* These are not gardens in the sense that one plants things that one expects to grow. They are very easy crafts.
I appreciate that Walsh respects children. She knows that any child reading this will have wanted to make a fairy garden, but been hesitant. Or maybe the child has made some, but wants tips. She'll meet the children where they're at.
There are rules. Do not uproot moss, as it grows slowly & so is not renewable. Do not mess around in state or national parks. The only living things you should use are flowers, *iff* you have permission. Do not use manmade materials, or materials found from another location (more than a about 5o miles or so roughly, probably). Use acorn cups, small clam shells, corncob floss, fallen leaves, fallen bark, fallen twigs, etc.
And then there is the section to be kind to the neglected goblins and trolls. Make inviting houses for them, too!
Appendices include a glossary, from which I learned that, since saying the word 'fairy' is often considered rude and/or bad luck, one can call them "the gentry."
May 14, 2014
This book is for people who have kids and/or who are very new to fairy gardening. It contains lots of high quality pics, but not many of inspiring/interesting fairy gardens. The children's drawings did not add much, IMO. A lot of the fairy gardens looked like they were created by children, so are quite amateurish.
So, for me, not particularly useful.
So, for me, not particularly useful.
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July 25, 2013
I wanted examples of fairy gardens, not uh, whatever this was. This would be cute to read to a kid, however.
September 25, 2020
This book was clearly written to be read with young children, which I admit I didn't realize until after I picked it up from the library. I was expecting more of an advanced handbook for whimsical miniature gardening as I don't believe this was coded as children's book - anyhoo...it was a charming read for different reasons.
It contained a variety of beginner fairy garden project ideas, but my favorite thing about it was how it explained the basics of gardening and plant/soil science in an informative yet whimsical way that would be very engaging for young readers. Fairies aside, the author really brought out the magic in cultivating our own little patch of nature and taught gentle lessons about using natural materials, respecting the earth and others' property, using patience and imagination, and seeing the magic in nature - all things I am so looking forward to sharing with my own young kids and grandkids someday. The book brought back my early childhood memories of decorating tiny birdhouses and shopping for miniatures with my grandma and mom as well as "helping" my grandpa out in his garden. Overall, it would be a delightful little handbook to read with youngsters to get them outside with their creativity flowing!
It contained a variety of beginner fairy garden project ideas, but my favorite thing about it was how it explained the basics of gardening and plant/soil science in an informative yet whimsical way that would be very engaging for young readers. Fairies aside, the author really brought out the magic in cultivating our own little patch of nature and taught gentle lessons about using natural materials, respecting the earth and others' property, using patience and imagination, and seeing the magic in nature - all things I am so looking forward to sharing with my own young kids and grandkids someday. The book brought back my early childhood memories of decorating tiny birdhouses and shopping for miniatures with my grandma and mom as well as "helping" my grandpa out in his garden. Overall, it would be a delightful little handbook to read with youngsters to get them outside with their creativity flowing!
September 19, 2021
This book provides a perfect guide for grown-up's and kids, as well as the kid in all of us.
The book contains 7 distinctive chapters of ways to do Fairy Gardens at home, as an adult, parent or kid.
From beginning with supplies and seed types and types of florals fairies like, and moving forward...
The projects are divided perfectly to accomodate whatever living arrangement or your end-goal is:
-Container Gardens (this serves well for teachers and those with limited spaces, think terrariums only much bigger)
-Outdoor Gardens (this is for those with spacious areas)
-Outdoor Garden themed Projects (Butterfly Gardens, Prisms and Wind Chimes to attract fairies)
-Indoor Activities (while you wait for plants to grow, inconvenient season or its a rainy day activity)
-Fairy Garden Party (everything you could think of: food, invitations, and activities)
Lastly, the book wants its younger gardeners to know how to tell if fairies have come to visit their gardens. There are many tell-tale signs, but I can't tell you.
Overall, this is a very good tool to get children engaged in environmental activities, while still keeping the fantastical imagination alive AND supported AND encouraged.
The book contains 7 distinctive chapters of ways to do Fairy Gardens at home, as an adult, parent or kid.
From beginning with supplies and seed types and types of florals fairies like, and moving forward...
The projects are divided perfectly to accomodate whatever living arrangement or your end-goal is:
-Container Gardens (this serves well for teachers and those with limited spaces, think terrariums only much bigger)
-Outdoor Gardens (this is for those with spacious areas)
-Outdoor Garden themed Projects (Butterfly Gardens, Prisms and Wind Chimes to attract fairies)
-Indoor Activities (while you wait for plants to grow, inconvenient season or its a rainy day activity)
-Fairy Garden Party (everything you could think of: food, invitations, and activities)
Lastly, the book wants its younger gardeners to know how to tell if fairies have come to visit their gardens. There are many tell-tale signs, but I can't tell you.
Overall, this is a very good tool to get children engaged in environmental activities, while still keeping the fantastical imagination alive AND supported AND encouraged.
July 16, 2018
Wind chimes, tiny trellises, and homemade mobiles can be part of a fairy garden. This book's many beautiful pictures and whimsical text can be an inspiration for creating a fairy garden. Not really a handbook, but a charming read nonetheless, this book is meant for children, though my library's call number didn't reflect that.
January 12, 2020
Skimmed as a resource
April 24, 2020
I have always loved flower fairies. I cannot wait to get started on my fairy garden and this book gave me all the resources I need.
August 30, 2013
I have the hardcover version of this book and would highly suggest to anyone that they get this format since it is a darling little book, just the right size to share with children and it contains the most delightful photos. My kids and I spent hours looking at the pictures and finding all the fairy details in them.
An added bonus are the educational opportunities Fairy Garden Handbook provides to caregivers for sharing the natural world with children. Beyond the cute tiny houses is a real life discussion of butterfly gardens to help aid our pollinators with their jobs and also ideas to attract hummingbirds and add music to your garden. The more children come to love nature, the more then will fight to protect it.
Children are naturally drawn to the outdoors and using a book like this to launch their flights of fancy is definitely a worthwhile investment. Everyone, even apartment dwellers, can find something to do in this book to bring nature closer to their children and help their fantasies fly free.
One of the best books to share with children I've read this year.
An added bonus are the educational opportunities Fairy Garden Handbook provides to caregivers for sharing the natural world with children. Beyond the cute tiny houses is a real life discussion of butterfly gardens to help aid our pollinators with their jobs and also ideas to attract hummingbirds and add music to your garden. The more children come to love nature, the more then will fight to protect it.
Children are naturally drawn to the outdoors and using a book like this to launch their flights of fancy is definitely a worthwhile investment. Everyone, even apartment dwellers, can find something to do in this book to bring nature closer to their children and help their fantasies fly free.
One of the best books to share with children I've read this year.
March 10, 2014
I keep forgetting to review this, sadly. (I'm so sorry it took so long!)
This was a early review copy given to me through the Library Thing Early Review program. It's an adorable little book for children on how build, make, grow, and care for Fairy Gardens. It's quite adorable, sensible and practical. It gives children a very large space to stretch their minds and believe in what they'd like, without ever coming down on oneside or the other of having an opinion on that last part. I think it's a great book for kids, and for parents of fairy-loving kids, who would love to be involved with this kind of thing.
This was a early review copy given to me through the Library Thing Early Review program. It's an adorable little book for children on how build, make, grow, and care for Fairy Gardens. It's quite adorable, sensible and practical. It gives children a very large space to stretch their minds and believe in what they'd like, without ever coming down on oneside or the other of having an opinion on that last part. I think it's a great book for kids, and for parents of fairy-loving kids, who would love to be involved with this kind of thing.
August 27, 2013
A wonderful guide to planting beautiful fairy gardens. I enjoyed that it was organized in a way so that included indoor container gardens and outdoor gardens along with a practical guides to plants to use in each. There was even a list a what plants meant to the fairies and how fairies used them as well as plants to attract bees and butterflies. As an environmental educator this book gave me ideas for fairy garden programs to offer families.
August 4, 2016
Very cute book. It does seem more geared towards children, which is understandable. Cute ideas for everyone, with suggestions and ideas for creating your own fairy space, whether potted, in the garden, or inside.
September 12, 2013
Excellent book for taking your kids on a journey through a fairy garden. We made our very own indoor planted garden and the girls loved it.
February 11, 2014
This was a bit more basic than I was hoping for, but it did have some neat photos and cool ideas about making fairy gardens look natural. I'm excited to start mine this spring.
January 18, 2015
3.5 stars
May 12, 2015
I read this for the library because we were hosting a fairy garden craft.
It is a fairly simple read covering the basics of what a fairy garden is all about.
It is a fairly simple read covering the basics of what a fairy garden is all about.
June 20, 2015
Great ideas and activities for youngsters!
April 8, 2021
Read for the library challenge and for my mom, who was once enthralled by fairy gardens.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews