The allure to miniature gardening or fairy gardens is that all ages that can create a garden suited to their lifestyle and surroundings. From small-scale terrarium gardens to large-scale landscape gardens, miniatures can be displayed in a variety of places. People living in the country may consider designing a plot of land for their garden, while apartment dwellers may chose container or terrarium mini gardens. Whatever the size of your garden, having a consistent scale will create realism in the world of minis.
There are a variety of scales used in miniature gardening, but the most popular size is 1:12 or 1-inch equals 1-foot. This is considered a large scale. The next size would be the 1:24 scale or medium scale, which is a great size for smaller pots or wicker basket tabletop gardens since.05-inches equals 1-foot. Lastly, there is the small scale, which works well with terrarium or tiny pots. This scale has a 1:48 ratio and.25-inches equal 1-foot. These three sizes are most commonly used in mini gardening, although there are additional scales that are popular with miniature enthusiasts.
In the fascinating world of miniature trains and railroads a variety of scales are used. When it comes to outdoor garden railways, the G-gauge or 1:22 scale is generally accepted. Even though the "G" comes from the German word for big, many feel it stands for the garden railroad. These medium scale model railroads are landscaped with live plants and they are designed to represent the real world. Since the G-gauge is so close to the 1:24 scale, many miniature gardening items can be used to set the scene.
When planning a Garden Railroad the scale not only relates to the accessories, but it also refers to the foliage growing throughout the landscape. Make your garden railroad come alive with plants. Add some moss to create a lawn or plant a small Boxwood Honeysuckle to become a shrub. According to the Chicago Botanic Railroad Garden's Resource Guide, here are a few of the plants recommended for the miniature garden: Blue Star Creeper, Boxwood, Cotoneaster, Duckfoot English Ivy, Stonecrop, Picea glauca Spruce, and Scotch Moss. In addition to plants, the garden spaces can include waterfalls, ponds, pathways, retaining walls, and hardscape. Do you want a real life looking Garden Railroad? If yes, then take time to select items that are in proportion to the trains and tracks in the garden.
My final thoughts on scale in the garden include, "What if I measure the mini accessory and it doesn't match any scale?" Select the scale that is the closest. Next, look at the proportion of the plant or accessory in comparison to the miniature garden and decide if you should go smaller or larger. Unless your miniature garden is entered in a competition, something that is close in scale will work fine and make your miniature gardening the topic of the neighborhood.
