Image a miniature, fairy garden party where the children go home with their very own tiny treasure! The party could have a theme related to a holiday or occasion, or the creative gathering could be a get-together of little ones spending an afternoon gardening. Since I am a grandparent, I would enjoy spending some time with my grandchildren's friends and their parents. Whatever the reason for planning this party, make it a special memory of friends and family creating fairy gardens!

When planning a party I usually start with the "who, what, where, when, and why" formula. Since some miniature accessories are not safe for children under the age of three, I would take the children's ages into consideration when planning the guest list. It would be enjoyable to invite the parents, so my husband and I would have a chance to know them better. Another set of hands helping would be beneficial too! While gardening with younger children, I have found one adult per child works best.

Once the basics have been determined, it is time to buy small containers and a collection of hardscape materials. In addition, purchase child friendly, miniature garden accessories to assemble in kits for each child. It has been my experience that if each child has the same kit, then the fairy garden party goes much smoother. A big sister kept noticing her mini loon would disappear under the blue glass pebbles, until a little brother had his own loon. I still laugh about that story!

What are some tips to planning a miniature gardening party?
* Include your children in the task of using fairy stickers or hand stamping a fairy design to create homemade invitations. Blank cards and envelopes are available at paper craft shops.
* When making the kits, organize the accessories in disposable, covered, plastic containers. Label the container (not the lid) with the child's name. Plastic bags work too, but I find it is easier to fill containers and they are fun for the children to decorate.
* When planning a kit I usually include a bench or chair, a fairy, an animal or butterfly, and a sign.
* For each child I purchase three sun-loving plants: ground cover, shrub, and a flowering plant.
* On the day of the party, organize an outdoor area with tables that include the kits, shovels, bottles with spray water, bucket of soil, and include additional pails of pebbles and mulch. In addition, sunscreen and bug spray are two necessary items at our Northern Wisconsin home.
* Placing a tarp under the bucket of soil makes clean up easy.
* Stock up on boxes that hold the finished work of art to transport it home.
* Remember your camera!

What are the steps to planting the miniature garden?
Begin by making sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of the container, and then add a few stones in the bottom. Next, fill the container with good quality potting soil. After the basic design of the miniature garden has been determined, it is time to add the plants. Once that task is completed, then place a layer of plant fabric underneath the hardscape areas and then add the pebbles or mulch. When it comes to the accessories, start with the large items first, and then position the decorative details into the miniscape. The last step is to give the plants a spray of water and before admiring the completed fairy garden. I am always amazed at how individualized each child's garden looks, even though they all have the same basic supplies. Remember to save time for taking pictures!

Let's talk about attention spans.
Plan about ten minutes of fairy gardening for 3 to 4-year old, it will not be much longer before they decide to move onto the next project. I stock an art table with crayons and paper or a tub of toys as good alternatives for the littlest gardeners. Once children have attended school, they focus more on the miniature gardening concept. Their creation has importance. Reading the Cicely Mary Barker flower fairy books to the older children will bring much meaning to the day that a tiny treasure was planted in the garden.