Gourds are Popular in Fall Fairy Gardens

It may feel warm today, but before we know it, there will be a chill in the air, crisp apples for sale, and kids planning costumes. Autumn is nearly here! When it comes to fairy garden ideas that are themed around all-things fall, one of the most popular miniature garden accessories is the gourd. That is right—the curvy, richly colored, funny-shaped fruit with a hard skin can be just the thing your fall fairy garden was missing.

Let us back up for a quick moment. For some, fall also signifies the beginning of searching phrases like "Is a pumpkin a gourd?" and "Is a squash and a gourd the same thing?" Have no fear! The answer may be pretty straightforward. A pumpkin is, well, a pumpkin. The shape is round with ridges, and commonly the color is orange, but it could be white or green. You might carve a pumpkin in October or bake it into a pie. Pumpkins fall under the umbrella of squash, as do many other edible fall fruits, such as butternut, zucchini, acorn, and spaghetti squash. What is a gourd? That is something a little different. Though a gourd is in the same family as pumpkin and squash, there is one big difference - gourds are ornamental. They are often dried, painted, and displayed. A gourd is a calorie-free fall favorite that is not to be eaten.

Okay, back to the fairy garden. When fall comes around each year, you will see all sorts of options for miniature garden accessories and decorations. Adding gourds and pumpkins to the fairy garden transforms it immediately from a summer paradise into a harvest-festival-ready space. If you are going for a realistic look, the Autumn Gourds are painted in a diverse array of bright colors, making them a cheerful trio. Bunch them outside of a fairy house, in front of a garden sign, or even in a wheelbarrow. Add a few miniature plants to add some greenery to the fairy garden display.

If your garden sits more in the "magical" camp, a gourd fairy house may be a better choice. Did you know that fairies love to live inside gourds? If the fairies in your garden have outsized personalities, you might try a gourd that seems to match, like the Fiddlehead Striped Gourd Fairy Home, which has all the bumps, stripes, and silly shapes that only a funny fairy or troll could love. Ready-made resin or polystone versions delight with their arched doorways, stoops, and gorgeous colors, but you could try your hand at making your own gourd fairy houses at home. Select gourds from your garden or shop at the fall farmer’s market. Once one of these plants has been removed from the vine and dried out, it makes a smart and sturdy fairy house by cutting out doors or windows. Another option is to head to a craft store to find artificial goods that are ready for carving.

Of course, if you have no time for the difference between gourds, squash, and pumpkins, and want a festive fall miniature garden without the name game, there are tons of pumpkin options for your fairy houses as well. A Micro Pumpkin House or Moonlit Pumpkin House could fit the bill, as they feature doors, windows, curvy stems, signature orange skins, and even, in some cases, LED lights that will add a nighttime touch to the garden. (We will not tell anyone that your gourd garden is actually a pumpkin patch, we promise.)