The Toddler Tourist: Exploring Hidden Gems In Your Own Backyard
There’s something in the air in August. Is it the smell of school and September on the horizon? Is it the magic of a month of potential for fun and frolic? Or could it be a different kind of magic. Maybe a hint of fairy magic.
It could be that the Toddler Tourists have a heightened awareness of all things fairy, given the demographic of our friend circle (those under the age of 6) or it could be the continuing trend in gardening, but there are many different fairy gardens in our community. Perhaps you haven’t had a chance to notice, so let me enlighten you.
Fairy gardens focus more on the story-telling scene, than the plants or flowers of a traditional garden. Maybe Gail (of Gardening with Gail) can chime in with her thoughts on fairy gardening in particular. They contain little dwellings like mushroom houses or little doors, miniature furniture and little animal figurines. You can pick a particular theme or just go wild with the mix-and-match elements. The configurations and designs are endless and there’s no right or wrong way to do it.
We have found some gems in Coldwater and Orillia. These are our top three favourites:
- Behind 20 Coldwater Road in Coldwater is a growing community fairy garden that is a part of a greater, collaborative art project that will be showcased at the Steampunk Festival in August. With so many different elements, it’s a collection of items that are each unique, but create an overall sense of whimsy.
- There’s also a large one on Bay Street in the downtown Orillia area on a private family home. This family’s work is evident as it grows each year! It’s beautiful to walk or bike past, with many elements to check out. Some local kids even add to it in their travels.
- The Candy Shoppe on Highway 11 South has an adorable fairy garden scene that grows vertically. Make sure to look UP when you go check it out!
Creating your own fairy garden is easy enough. You can use most natural elements you find in your travels. Stones, sticks, and moss are great materials to use to get started. You can make it in a planter, a birdbath, your front garden area or just a section of your backyard. You can also make one inside in a fish tank, box…anything! If you want to go wild, you just need a few bucks to spend at the local dollar store. There’s a whole fairy garden section. And maybe fairies aren’t your thing…but gnomes are cute too! A gnome garden is also a big hit among kids.
Orillia’s own Sarah Papple believes in fairies. So much so that she has written a book that came out in December of last year called Fairy Spotting Guide. She has been creating her own little creatures, one a day, since January 1, 2017. Her first publication contains photos of these fantastical little friends. In fact, I’m fairly certain my littles ones found one of these fairy creations at the George Langman Sanctuary in the forest two years ago. I didn’t know it at the time, but in retrospect, I feel like it must’ve been one. These whimsical creations are being hidden across our region. You never know where one will pop up. Papple’s field guild prompts people to get outdoors, engage with nature, slow down and celebrate being alive. You can purchase the Fairy Spotting Guide online, or at Manticore Books or Quaker Oaks Farm. We have picked up some tips and tricks and used them along the way in our adventures. You can also Adopt a Fairy on her website or even write to a fairy and they will write back:
Sarah Papple
Box 23052
Front Post Office
Orillia, ON
L3V4R0.
Learn more at www.thesarahapple.com.
Fairy garden creating and fairy spotting is of course a free activity, which we love. To create your own “garden”, you don’t have to go overboard. The cost can be minimal, and the fun potential is significant! Kids love to manipulate and create. Just a handful of natural materials you’ve collected in your forest walks will get you started.
If you create a whimsical garden this summer, we want to see it! Send your photos to info@northsimcoe.life. Happy Fairy Spotting!
