Back to the Garden

August is a funny month. Situated at the tail-end of summertime, it is usually a month full of last-minute vacations, back-to-school shopping, and attempts to squeeze in every last ounce of summer fun. It is a month of transitions both big and small. And this year, those transitions are especially unique and meaningful. Some children are preparing to go back to school full-time, while others are gearing up for weeks of learning at home. Parents are making tough decisions and rethinking how their families’ lives will look over the next few months.

In the midst of all this change and uncertainty, it could be helpful to remind ourselves of school years past—those exhilarating days of riding the school bus, picking out an outfit for the first day of school, and opening up a fresh notebook. Do you have any favorite back-to-school memories? While our kids and grandkids get ready to grow new memories of school, we can take a step back and plant some of our favorite recollections in the miniature garden.

A back-to-school-themed fairy garden might be just what your family and friends need to feel energized about new assignments, teachers, and routines. For at-home learners, consider planting a miniature garden in a dish. This can sit right on a desk or table where your little one might be doing their schoolwork. For a dish garden, you can choose an easy-to-grow miniature plant such as a succulent or small cactus. Decorate with landscaping materials like pebbles and moss. Then finish off your design with a fairy friend or other miniature accessory.

If you have a bit more space and plan to build a large container garden or landscaped miniature garden outside, there is plenty you can do to give your garden some back-to-school flair. After planting your favorite cheerful miniature plants and groundcover plants, consider miniature accessories that could liven up your space. A bright school bus will remind you of days gone by, and a little schoolhouse for garden fairies can encourage visitors to imagine what fairy school might be like! Of course, no schoolyard is complete without a miniature tree and some carefully-chosen groundcover plants that resemble a school’s green lawn. Add some mall stone pavers leading back to a bench, as well as some playground equipment and a flag pole to complete the look.

Are you a DIY gardener? If so, you can take your back-to-school garden to the next level with a customized sign. If your fairy school has its own veggie patch or flower garden, create a sign that says "Fairy School Garden" or simply "Fairy School." Or you could ring in the new year with a sign that says "Welcome Back!" or "ABC’s and 123’s."

After you are done creating the back-to-school garden of your dreams, you then have the opportunity to share it with others! Perhaps there are children in your community who would like to tour your garden as part of at-home lessons. You can talk to them about your miniature plants, as well as the soil and any landscaping materials you use. This type of hands-on, in-person learning might be just the thing your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or local students may need to build up an interest in plants and gardening. You never know—you could inspire the next generation of gardeners!