Out of Fairy Tragedy Comes a Contest
A teary-eyed Alexis ran through the house, out of breath and desperate for my attention. "Momma! Momma! Come here!" she cried out.
I followed down the stairs and out the door to our back patio. I followed her pointed finger and thought, "Oh."
"Momma! The fairy house broke! And the fairies all moved out! Now they'll never come back!" she sobbed.
She takes this magical fairies in the garden business very seriously. Obviously.
I reassured her that we could fix the house as I put the fallen light back in its proper place.
"But the fairies already left!" she wailed.
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see what happens," I told her.
I haven't fixed the fairy roof yet. Instead, I'm waiting for a little magic to strike at just the right time. The magic is going to be accompanied by a little extra magic. And maybe a little extra to go on top of that.
We shall see.
Today as I was recounting the story of the Very Devastating Fairy Garden Disaster to someone who hasn't had the pleasure of meeting Hurricane Alexis, I listened to a tale of some kids who don't live in a house that has magic. The reasons for the lack of magic are sound and it is absolutely a parent's choice to parent how he or she likes, but it made me a little sad. No tooth fairy. No Santa. No Easter Bunny.
No garden fairies.
No magic.
It's not my place to deliver magic to strangers, or at least not those strangers. With a little more thought, however, it occurred to me that perhaps I could deliver some magic to some different strangers.
One of you, perhaps.
So, here's the thing. Over the past few years, I've amassed a pretty decent stockpile of magical fairy garden accessories. I have extra fairy houses and garden tools and fairy clothes and .... I should stop. If I keep listing how much stuff I know is sitting in my fairy box in the basement, it'll be like confessing to a shopping crime. Or ten. AHEM.
ANYWAY.
If you leave a comment on this post, you will be entered in a random drawing to win a fairy garden kit. It will come with a nice little box of accessories, a fairy house for you to decorate, and a list of plants that are good for fairy gardens that live in a container. I'll even tailor the list for your region so that you can look for plants that will be happy where you live. For the sake of having something to say in your comment, just tell me who you would share your fairy garden with -- although, it's acceptable to say you'll be hogging it to yourself. I fully admit I have claimed the castle one in our yard and won't let anyone else play with it.
I'll pick a winner at random on 3/31, but don't wait to enter. Just do it now so you don't forget. Also, please make sure your email address is in the correct field on your comment so I can contact you if you win. Good luck!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Reader Comments (108)
I would share the fairy house with anyone who enters our door! I attempted one last summer but only got a house, a troll and a few seashells. I guess it was better than nothing, but not much better.
I have my very own 7 year old daughter who absolutely believes in all things magical! So I would share with her and of course my 9 year old daughter who also still believes. My 11 year old son would probably also help, because he's crafty, despite his wavering belief in magic, etc.
Funny! I was just thinking about your fairy gardens this morning on my way to work, and thinking that I want to make one with my almost 1 year old daughter when she is old enough. Thanks for keeping the magic alive!
I would love a fairy garden kit. I suppose I could share it with my daughters.
I have three little boys, but boys need magic too. :)
My girls would love a fairy garden!
Gooooooooooooooooosh! How I could miss this?????
PICK ME (yes, I am THAT polite), because you know what we've done to the fairy house you gave me as a farewell gift. It is now the wonderful blue garden house of a fairy with dark hair, big green eyes, tipsy Mr. Spock ears, a brown dress and sparkly wings. This detailed description of the fairy was given to me by my 3-year-old niece Emina, who is taking perfect care of the fairy and her seasonly changing home.
In early May Emina will be the sister of (if the doctors are right and it is a girl again) of Hannah. And of course ... two girls - at least TWO fairy house. A gorgeous fairy house kit for the built of No 2 would be more than welcome.
LOVE YA and LOVE Alexis so much for her sense of magic .... because it is there!
My niece loves fairies with a passion. She's dressed at Samhain as a fairy for three years straight and is very specific as to what type of fairy she is dressed as. We have been talking about fairy houses but I don't have the health or finances to help her right now. I would love to be able to help her put together a fairy house. Thank you for giving all of us this opportunity.
Pat
So this year is the year a fairy house was going to appear in our garden. I have said this every year since I saw you post about yours.. A kit would truly facilitate this! My 5 year daughter would love it!!
I have wanted a fairy garden for so long. If I am lucky enough to win, I promise to not only immediately construct my fairy garden, but also to share it with my wonderful hubby and our neighbors. Well, as long as they don't touch it or try to move anything in there. Ahem.
I'd hog it all to myself. Mostly because my youngest is 8 and may not be into it.
We all need a bit of fantasy, a bit of whimsy. I love your fairy houses and as I'm planning a bit of an outdoor living area, I will be sure to include at least one fairy lair.
I'd share the magic with the lovely kiddos that come into my library. It needs a little brightening up :)
Everytime I see you post about fairy gardens I think, I have to make one of those! But my lack of creative skills keeps me from doing it. I had planned on writing about who I would share it with- until I saw this post:
Oh, this is great! I run a children's program at a homeless shelter in San Diego.
If I win, I give my win to Jennifer. I think her kids need magic more than the ones I was going to write about.
Obviously we need some fairies up in this piece.
I could use a little magic right now. I've been wanting to do a fairy garden since I first read about them on your blog!
I would love a fairy garden. For me. I will share it with my boys (ages 6 and 3), but it will be mine! :)
While we have limits on the magic allowed around here (for my personal preferences...I firmly believe in magic, but Easter Bunny can get stuffed as can the leprachauns)...BUT, I've seen you with these fairy houses and I adore them...I would absolutely love to give my girls this as they are firm TinkerBell fans!!
My daughter would love to have one of these! What a great contest!
I made a Fairy Garden for my daughter's 5th birthday last year. My husband still mocks me that I really made it for me. If you pick me, I promise to share with my two daughters and ALL of the new fairies that will move into our gardens.
I have a 5 yr old that would love this!
My four year old wholeheartedly believes in fairies and would love this.
My 5- and 3-year-old nieces think THEY are fairies. Imagine how much fun they'll have with new fairy friends!
We have magic in our house. Love these!
I think I would be selfish and keep this for myself but I would let my two young boys look at it!
My daughter would love this!
This is so funny. I pinned the original dairy garden several months ago under 'outdoors'. I decided tonight to check out what I've pinned there since spring is pretty much here and I came across the fairy garden. For the first time, I followed it to your blog and read the entire post. I just love it. It truly feels magical. I want to ate them for my mom and mother in law fir Mother's Day. And if course one for me,too! But the funny thing is, I decided to click into your mist recent post and it was the same magical fairy land but in its dormant state! Funny... Thanks for sharing:)
XO,
Christy
My 7 year old daughter would love that she wants to be a fairy or a mermaid when she grows up
I'd share it with me, myself and I (I live alone). This is the first place ill be living that ill actually have a chance to figure out if I do really have a brown thumb. Plus, it's also the first place I'm living in that I have a back porch overlooking a stam, which would be the perfect location for a fairy garden..
I would take it to Florida and build the fairy garden with Little C and G-man when I go to visit in May. They would love it!
My now 12 year old started the fairy obsession in our house, though she now pretends to be too cool for it. She still manages to get excited when her little sister receives notes and gifts from the fairies.
Hello! However wonderful it would be to win the fairy garden accessories, I believe you should pick someone with a child in need of a little more magic in their life. Perhaps they're having a rough time at school this year, or moved recently and are getting used to a new neighborhood. I remember being young and my Mom didn't always have the extra money to make the extra magic happen. But she did pretty darn good whenever she could! I would be very interested in seeing some how-to's on fairy gardens in the future from you though! I'm sure there are a few other big-kids (erm...mid-20-somethings) out there that would love to make our own!
I'd share it with my Mom. I think she's lost a little of her magic and this would be just the thing she needs to brighten her garden and bring the magic back.
My soon to be 3 year old would love tending to a fairy garden. I would love to share this with her.
My mom has been dying to start a fairy garden, and with both their birthdays coming up in April, what a great kick start this would be for them!
Oh no! That's so sad about Alexis' fairy house :( I'm sure the Spring Fairy will make it prettier than ever, undoing the damage of the tromping Winter Fairy.
We are getting a new covered patio and a lovely new 12' planter that already has a corner set aside in my mind for a fairy house. So far I only have one thing for the fairy's yard - an engraved stone that says "giggle." We could certainly put your goodies to good use.
I would love a fairy garden. My neighbors little girls would love to help.
Oh, I would love one for myself, but I would be willing to share it with my kiddos.
(87 entries already, whoa lady!)
(Also? I want to just see this collection. I've managed to restrain myself, but this might be the year we go wild)
MJ is really getting into the imaginary world of fairies. I think her & I will have some fun making a boy friendly one next.
This would be aewsome to share with my 9 year old neighbor girl who helps me in my yard. She does lots of grunt work for me so it would be nice to have something fun to reward her with.
Those fairy insurance adjustors can take FOREVER when it comes to getting houses fixed. We had a similar incident with our Fairy Pirate Ship when she lost a main sail. Thankfully, all is well now.
We have a robust fairy village, but I'd love to "elf" ("fairy?") someone in the neighborhood with a fairy house, so count me in! Come to think of it, I think the school garden would like one too. It could be a class project. "Build it and they will come." Okay, i should stop making a list right now or I'll have to go out and buy more supplies. What a happy problem. :)
My 4 year old would live a fairy garden. He insists his little sister is Tinkerbell.
My 4 year old daughter, Lily. She loves Tinkerbell and her new favorite is Periwinkle. A fairy garden of her own would be beyond magical!
My friend's daughter is about to turn 5. She would looove this!
We are moving to a new home soon and for the first time we'll have a backyard. That would add so much more magic to that concept than it already has!
My 6 year old daughter is who I'd share it with! What fun.
Our fairy garden could use some help! the fairies certainly did not like the house and swimming pool we had for them last year. all they did was rearrange things and were never quite happy enough
I'd share it with Arianna, although I am slightly fearful she'll be afraid of the Fairies! ;)
it would be my pleasure to share the glory of a fairy garden with all who come to my house.
i have the galvanized tub, just need all the other stuff so i hope i win!
Oh, me and the boys could totally use a little bit of magic around here!