Cricket Makes Compost Cakes

Before                                           Our wonderful Cricket now.

One of the smaller fairies to join my garden community is named Cricket. She keeps the garden tidy. Cricket likes to fly around the garden gathering plant debris. She makes neat little piles by layering dead plant material and soil. When I see a pile, I dig a hole next to it about 10 inches deep by 10 inches wide. Cricket returns to fill the hole and create a small hill of plant waste. When I see a the little mound encircled with sticks and stones, fresh flowers petals and a bit of fairy dust on the top, I know she has moved on to the next one.  I call these fancy compost piles "Cricket Cakes." Over the next few weeks the piles slowly decay and become sweet compost. Cricket thinks of herself as a self taught chef of plant food.

Cricket Cakes can be found around the garden.

Cricket and I have been working many longs hours to tidy up the garden. The gardener that lived here before me had a more natural and untouched style of gardening. I love that gardening is such an individual thing. No two gardeners are completely on the same page. We each have our own style and that's the way it should be! The gardener before me had a large compost bin in the corner of the garden. Thank you! I used this to fill my new raised garden beds that Twigs and I just completed.

As I strive to make this MY garden, the fairies are working along side me. I am a very blessed woman!

A New Fairy Arrives

Tomma Tillo

I was resting quietly after a long day of working in the garden, ( I refer to my entire yard as "the garden"). My chaise lounge was even more comfortable than I remember. My eyes were closed and the stillness of the evening was very relaxing. I began to hear a fairy near me. I did not give it much thought since the fairies are always buzzing here and there in the garden. I started to realize it was not going away and it seemed to be very close. Then the sound stopped and at the same time I felt something land on my chest. I slowly opened one eye. Looking  back at me was a tiny little man fairy? I have only met gal fairies. With both eyes opened I said "Hello, I'm Linda and you are in my garden."

He responded "Hello to you too! I know who you are. Fairies everywhere are talking about the lady who moved into this old house and has made a fairy welcome garden." He had my undivided attention now. I started to sit up and I said "Really? Do tell me what you have heard about Linda Lu." He explained news travels fast in the fairy realm when a human is fairy friendly. Everyone is talking about the Sisterhood of the Seven Gypsy Fairies and wondering if there is room for more fairies in your garden.

My mind started to race. I should think about this. If I say yes, will my garden turn into a Fairy Woodstock? If I say no, will I regret turning them away? The truth is, I adore the sisterhood of the seven fairies living here. Building a fairy safe community would be wonderful for all us.

"There could possibly be room for more fairies" I said. The little fairy spun up in the air, landed back on my chest, removed his acorn cap and bowed. "Allow me to introduce myself" he said "I am Tomma Tillo and I am pleased to make your acquaintance!" He made me smile. He was quite dramatic. "I can help you" he said. "Do I need help?" I responded. "There is a rumor going on that you are growing poison ivy" said Tomma. "Oh, that" I said. I also explained its not that I am growing it, it came with the house. I am trying to banish it and for now, stay away from it. "Yes, yes, yes, I need help with that evil weed."

We chatted for a while. I really started to like spending time with Tomma. I think he will fit in nicely. I told him he was welcome to search the garden for a spot to make his home. I also asked him to be respectful of the area in and around the camp where the sisterhood lived. He assured me that there was no need to be concerned since he stopped at the camp before finding me. He wanted to make sure all of the ladies of the garden would welcome him.

I have come to learn when the fairies want something, the air is filled with determination and perseverance. You can feel a tingle or charge in the air. The fairies are up to something!

The Star Opal

Yes! There is harmony in my garden. When the fairies are busy planning and working together, there is a feeling of complete harmony in the garden. One of the fairies contributes to this by sharing her bubbly personality to keep everyone motivated. She is that friend everyone likes to be around. She lifts your spirits and makes you smile. She glows with "positivity"! In fact she sings with it. Opal flutters around the garden, dances down tree branches and spreads inspiration dust. This little fairy sings all the time. She adores show tunes and dreams of being on Broadway. For now she is happy being the Star Opal of the garden. She knows, to get the energy moving in the garden, you just have to dance and sing! It helps the plants grow too.

Create a Fairy Tale

Imagine walking around an antique store. Not the fancy, everything is shined and polished on glass shelves kind of store but the kind of antique store you really have to look! You have to look behind things to see what is hiding kind of store. These are my favorite type of antique stores. I love the dusty flea market type. This is the store you leave with "a find."

While rummaging at a store I stumbled onto a small basket under a shelf filled with tiny vintage dolls. Some had the original clothing on the doll. Others had hand made crocheted dresses and under garments. The dolls were in need of a bath. They looked like they had traveled much. They appeared as Gypsies. Later I found out they are actually called Travel Dolls.

The faces are so beautiful. They look like old Hollywood. They needed a new home and an Eliza Doolittle make over. I picked seven. When I got home I started with an internet search for cleaning old doll hair. Conditioner was recommended to use. All but one did OK with this. The hair fell off as soon as it got wet.

I went down into my studio found scraps of fabric and open up my sewing machine. I started sewing small dresses and skirts. Later I made some head pieces. I use fabric glue and Velcro to attach the cloths. I picked up a few holiday flowers on clearance. I used the petals of the holiday floral to make wings. The wings are attached with wire.

This was the beginning of The Seven Gypsy Fairies of Garden Harmony.

Fairy Bed

When the fairies wake from their winter nap I will have some new furniture for them. I have completed a bed and a few more chairs. I am excited to start working on the new location for the fairies to call home. It will be in the back of the garden and on a knoll.

The Bug Fairy

Ruthie is named after my Grandmother. My Grandmother only grew one thing in her garden. Mint! It was a very small area next to her kitchen door. She lived in a small bungalow on a city lot. Grandma Ruth had mint in her tea pot at every meal.  She also made the best Sweet Tea.  She took the left over tea and added it to a pitcher along with the juice of two freshly squeezed lemons and 1 cup of sugar.

Mint can get out of control if you let it grow in your garden. But I don't care. My sisters and my daughters all have a spot for mint at their homes. It is a must for us to grow. The scent reminds me of my younger days of time spent with Grandma. I always volunteered to cut the mint for the tea.

Ruthie is kind and gracious, just like my Grandmother. Ruthie makes friends easily. She calls every insect and animal who live in our garden her friends. I expect by the end of summer they will all have names. As long as they all play nice together, they are welcome in our garden.

The Fairy Who Builds

Twigs is the fairy who builds.  She is happiest when she is making some sort of physical structure. My current garden has a long list of future building projects. I am looking forward to getting the input from Twigs on all of these projects. I also look forward to the moments I can verbalize to my husband "Twigs and I do not agree with you." Not all projects go smoothly at our house. If fact when it comes to most projects, I have to decide at what point I say "win some loose some."

Before and after picture of Twigs. Her hair completely fell off when I was
cleaning her. She has new hair.