Children's fairy garden

[charionbotha]

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Rowena's dream was for a fun garden area where the children and the young at heart could enjoy. With the extended family from around Australia coming for Christmas gatherings this year, it was time to tidy this area.   

On 15 April 2022 a text came through “it would be lovely to have a fairy garden”. 

Alongside Rowena, her team of support workers got involved in her whimsical landscaped fairy garden DIY project. We all discovered what outdoor play could be like by looking inside our own ultimate dream.  The path of self-discovery and that of engineering skills through creating, shaping and then re-modelling of the prototype and landscapes were found along the way!

Finally! Through perseverance, patience and hard work, we added some magic to Rowena’s backyard. 

We laid out the garden, created the mini landscape with bags of soil and sand, and painted the stone river to be used as a pathway.  

Rowena then started to work her magic; different areas became different stories.  Gradually we saw something like a yogurt tub turned into a waterfall and a milk bottle into a farm gate and shop – who would have thought!  And so, this is how the story and sub-stories unfolded.  

We weren't afraid to change something or reposition the plants as the different components arrived. Bouncing ideas off each other on how to make the ideas happen and so the story progressed.

Most of the components that you see in the photographs were hand made by Rowena and the team who used upcycled, recycled and repurposed materials, paints and lots of glue from Bunnings. 

Of course, we were sustained by teas and coffees made by her husband and who was

on standby for the many emergency Bunnings trips!

This dream worked because we took action, and sometimes starting is the hardest part. We helped Rowena to create her dream – and we made it happen!

We hope that you enjoyed your virtual walk-through Rowena's Fairyland.  

Up close visits to the garden are welcomed by all to enjoy - we hope to see you soon!

The before photo - of fairy garden location

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feeding the dolphinsfishing canoeist fishing for 'soy sauce' fish (upcycled sushi sauce container)water well made from upcycled plastic containerplaying catchFlowers for my girlmini rose succulentsthe one that nearly got awaythe princess with her bodyguardsitting alongside the waterfall and playing in my bubblesOut for a whilelighthouse made from upcycled plastics and ornamentsDinosaur caveCrocodile bewareBoot skootingLiving the farm lifeWashing dayWasher woman - her glamorous outfit and hair up-do hand-madeFarm girl with clothing hand madecan you see the koala?Bicycle to where you need to goShopping - for essential itemsGrocery store made from recycled containers and upcycled materialsHanging out the washingLaundry detergent

Boat race down Nudge RiverWedding bellsHere's looking at youFairy Pavilion with upcycled sandwich container as the roofCoffee mug - home to spiderBuskering to swimming activitiesSwimming with the mermaidsLife saver rings made from rings from bottle topsMy one stop shopLight fittings to the boardwalkBoardwalk made from upcycled bamboo blinds and bottle capsMy fire place made from this and thatFisherman's hut (upcycled wax burner) fitted with solar panelsMy grottoMy grottomeadow flowersclothing made from scraps of fabric

[EricL]

Hello @charionbotha

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's fantastic to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your fairy garden transformation.

What a beautiful transformation from a garden mess to a lovely fairy display. All the little details add up to make a wonderful garden display. The tiny stairs that lead to a magical door, the toadstool that the fairies use to sit on and the coloured pebbles all tell a story and are lovely to look at.

Again, thank you so much for sharing this magical fairy garden transformation.

Eric