How to Plant a Miniature Garden in a Big Pot, Part 1

Miniature Gardening in Large Containers

From the Archives, 2004: Our first display at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. A good tip: pick a pot with a lip on it so you have something to grip if you have to move it or pick it up (not like the pots above!)

How to Plant a Miniature Garden in a Big Pot, Part 1

Miniature Gardening in Large Pots

From the Archives, 2004: This pot is 17″ high and 14″ wide and big enough to put a path through the middle of it.

Planting a miniature garden in big containers creates room for more fun. You can break up the design into a couple of smaller gardens with paths leading to and fro, make a huge yard with several focal points happening around the edge of the pot, or have enough room for a small house or building, a particular favorite of fairy gardeners. We talk about the different kinds of pots that can be used miniature gardening in our new book Gardening in Miniature: Create Your Own Tiny Living World, but here are a few more tips on how to save some time and money – and your back – when working with very large pots or containers.

What’s Deep?

What do we consider a deep pot for miniature gardening? Any pot that is deeper than 14″, in my opinion.

Another popular question when planning a miniature garden in a huge pot is, “Should I put something in the bottom before I start planting?”  Yes, and there are several reasons why you can go ahead fill that big container up with some sort of filler, leaving 8″ to 10″ from the top of the pot, before you add regular potting soil that will make you, and the plants, happier in the long run.

The miniature garden plants that we recommend to use are usually small to start with, so they don’t need a lot of soil to get growing. I find some types of plants tend to falter when planted in a huge container full of soil, as most plants prefer a smaller root environment when they are young. We call it “swimming in soil,” when the water wicks away from the plant’s roots to the bottom of the pot where gravity pulls it, and the moisture doesn’t stay around the roots where it is needed. Then the roots dry out, the plant starts to stress and falter. By using filler, it shortens the depth of the soil, prevents the water from wicking, the soil stays damp longer and the roots stay happy.

Miniature Gardening in Large Containers

From the Archives, 2004: Planting miniature gardens in large pots leave more room for creativity.

Fill ‘Er Up

Another reason to use filler on the bottom of the pot is huge pots can get really heavy. The spot you choose may be perfect for that garden this summer and into next summer but you may want to eventually move it. The two most popular ways to fill up your pots are:

Styrofoam peanuts or popcorn: Most packing peanuts are biodegradable now so put them in a plastic shopping bag, tie the bag shut and place the bag upside-down in the pot so water doesn’t get inside and stagnate. If you are using a really big pot, use several of bags-full and fill the pot up to about 10” to 12” from the top.

Miniature Gardening in Large Pots

Upside-down poly pots make a great filler. Smush them to fit them in.

Upside-down black plastic nursery pots: Start with big 1 or 2 gallon pots in the center of the bottom of the pot and work in the upside-down 4” pots, squishing them so they fill in as much space as possible. You can cut a couple of pieces of cardboard and layer it on top of the upside-down pots to create the “bottom” of the pot, or you can just start filling up the pot with soil.

We’ve heard of people using upside soda-cans and they would work only if they are rinsed out really, really well. Otherwise the sugar in the soda would draw unwanted pests to your container.

Note that this is for miniature gardening with small plants. Bigger plants mean more roots. If you are creating mixed containers of regular perennials and nursery plants you may want to use soil all through your container to leave plenty or room for root growth.

Stay tuned for Part 2! This was getting too long and I have more tips and techniques to share.

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Father’s Day in the Miniature Garden

Father's Day in the Miniature Garden

“Manly, yes, but I like it too.” So went the 1980s Irish Spring soap commercial. Thankfully, miniature gardens can be created for anyone and by anyone – including Dad.

Father’s Day in the Miniature Garden

Miniature gardening is becoming an increasingly valuable skill to have especially during those times when you can’t figure out what kind of gift to give to that hard-to-shop-for person in your life. It was always a challenge to figure out what to get my Dad for any occasion. It usually fell back on the basics: a box of Turtles chocolates, or maybe a box of Laura Secord chocolates or, when I was older, a bottle of Grand Marnier – and/or a box of chocolates. And I was number three of five kids. I’m surprised he didn’t keel over with all that sugar. ;o)

Father's Day in the Miniature Garden

Tompa Dwarf Spruce tree on the right with ajuga and white thyme. Made around 2004-ish. This one we kept – and it’s still in the same pot today. The spruce is doing very well, the ajuga eventually squeezed out the white thyme over the years. The miniature bricks are wonderful and still intact.

Father's Day in the Miniature Garden

This miniature garden was created for the indoors. Variegated boxwoods, dwarf mondo grass, corsican mint (we use baby tears now – it’s more reliable) and a couple of airplants, or Tillsandias, in the miniature urns. When Mom and daughter came to pick it up, the little girl added some squirrels and a bunny. She was sooooo excited to give it to her Dad, it was too cute.

Father's Day in the Miniature Garden

Give your Dad his very own private vacation. The upright Compressa Juniper, with the ever-faithful-and-so-easy-to-grow Mother Lode Juniper combined with small-leafed sedums create a perfect mini get-away for a full-sun spot.

What about my Dad, you ask? He’s the man behind my love of books, my work ethic, my eye for quality, my love of [almost] anything antique, my affinity for old houses and, most importantly, my love of gardening. Thanks, Dad! Happy Father’s Day!

And as they say in Trinidad, “Goat don’t make sheep.” My Dad is into spreading the joy of hobbies too. His publishing company’s website is here. ;o)

Father's Day in the Miniature Garden

This garden is part of our Year in the Miniature Garden Series where we are keeping the same garden, and dressing it up for different occasions where we can. Happy Father’s Day!

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The wait is over! IT’S NOW AVAILABLE! Find it at wherever books are sold or from our online store here.

 

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Re-Defining the Miniature Garden and Creating History

Miniature Gardening at Sorticulture

Our display at Sorticulture highlights the gardens I put together for The Book. This garden above can also been seen in the world’s cutest video up on Youtube here.

Re-Defining the Miniature Garden and Creating History

I think it’s safe to say it. It was probably safe to say it last year – and maybe the year before that too: We’ve made it into the garden history books.

And it only took over 12 years of a full-on-sprint to get it done. (“It” meaning, create the market, define the hobby, then write The Book <- not a good business plan. ;o) But, hey, time to dance in the streets, eh? But first, let me explain my historical statement if you are new to what is happening here.

Miniature Gardening at Sorticulture

Miniature Trees: Boyd’s Willow on the left with the round leaves, Sky Pencil Japanese Holly in the back, the Silver Fox Hoary Willow in the middle and a Thyme-Leaf Cotoneaster on the right, with the “apples.” See what’s in stock here.

What We Know For Sure

We know the term ‘miniature gardening’ has long been used as a broad description for all kinds of gardening small. Teacup gardening, dish gardening, terrariums, bonsai, Penjing, gnome gardening, toad gardening, fairy gardening, dollhouse gardening, trough gardening, railroad gardening, windowsill gardening, rock gardening, alpine gardening, small-space gardening, indoor gardening…  and I’ve probably missed a few too.

Less than a few years ago, when I said  ‘miniature garden’ to the average gardener, one of four things would normally happen:

(a) they used to think of it as any kind of small garden,
(b) they assume it was a fairy garden,
(c) they would not know what I was talking about because the term was so vague and unknown, or
(d) they thought I was talking about an artificial dollhouse garden.

And yes, there have been books on fairy gardening and railroad gardening throughout the last few years that have used the term “miniature garden” as well – but I think we can chalk that usage up to the old definition by now - ONLY because AND quite frankly – what else would you call our style of gardening in miniature?

And this is where the changing history comes in because we have now redefined the term “miniature garden.”  This is not the first attempt at changing this definition but it will certainly be the time when it will stick only because too many people have fallen under its spell.

Miniature Gardening at Sorticulture

Having fun with the our Cover Garden. We found when using bright, strong colored accessories worked better when we used multiples of it to balance the distribution of color.

Gardening in Miniature

The accessories for the cover garden were chosen by Patrick Barber, the artistic director from Timber Press.

The Official Definition of a Miniature Garden:

“A miniature garden is a living garden in a tiny scale and looks like a full-sized garden that has literally shrunk in size. It consists of a slow growing dwarf or true miniature plants, in-scale bedding plants, a patio or pathway, and miniature accessories where all the elements relate in scale, are proportioned to each other and stay in scale and proportion as the garden grows together.”

And hey, this is becoming an even bigger historical movement in the garden world, especially if you do take into account all the fairy gardeners too. Which brings us to the question,

“What exactly is the difference between miniature gardening and fairy gardening?”

Fairy gardens are created specifically for fairies with whimsical houses, fantastical furniture and a fairy figure, or two are hidden among the regular-sized garden plants and herbs.

For most people, using this highly imaginative theme compromises the realism dramatically and reduces the enchantment that only an authentic and realistic miniature scene can deliver. Notice the next time you see a really good fairy garden that it is the realistic items in the scene that delivers most of the message – whether it be a realistic window on a house, a tiny book laying on the table or a miniature rake propped up next to the fairy house.

Miniature Gardening at Sorticulture

Serenity Now: A miniature garden with an Adirondack chair and wee pond quietly prods us to relax and take a moment.

And It’s Generating a Huge Miniature Movement

It is just a tiny garden idea with incredibly rich possibilities and it is quickly capturing the hearts and the imaginations of people worldwide. Miniature gardening is a personable, creative, accessible, share-able, scale-able, play-able and a productive way to get your creative juices flowing and, at the same time, can be very grounding and centering. Now don’t just sit there, help make history.

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Miniature Gardening at Sorticulture

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Miniature Gardening: Exporting Creative Garden Fun

A Birthday in the Miniature Garden

More of our Year in the Miniature Garden Series as we celebrated my big day yesterday: A Birthday in the Miniature Garden. 

Miniature Gardening: Exporting Creative Garden Fun

Creative. Garden. Fun. It’s funny that mere words can start the gears turning and get you dreaming and scheming of how to get another miniature garden underway. I bet, if you could find a nice-sized pot that would go well on the corner of the deck, beside that bigger pot next to your table, you could….

Yeah, I’m an enabler. ;o)

And it’s time again to enable our fellow MGs up in Canada too! We did this a couple of years ago, but it looks like the list has grown and changed, so here is a list of independent garden centers across Canada that at least draw from the same wholesale nursery as we do for our miniature and dwarf trees and shrubs. We don’t know if they actually carry the same trees as we do, but if they don’t ask them if they can get some in for you. Be prepared to wait for the next shipment.

CALL FIRST to check if they have any miniature or dwarf trees or shrubs! I’ve tried to include the website where I was able, so you can email them if the phone number doesn’t work for whatever reason. DOUBLE CHECK my address info before heading out too – I’m my own editor – and I betcha my epitaph will have a typo. ;o)

See this blog post for the same kinds of plants that we use for the bedding plants and you can look for while you are there. By asking for a specific type of plant, you can avoid any confusion because not everyone knows what makes a good miniature garden plant yet.

Please tell them Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden Center sent you! So they know that there is an ongoing interest in carrying plants for us miniature gardeners. Oh, and we do not know why the list doesn’t include the eastern Maritime provinces but this is what we were given from our wholesale nursery. Our Canada does go to the Atlantic coast! ;o)

A Birthday in the Miniature Garden

Sedum cuttings are perfect for the tiny pots. Put the soil in the wee pot, poke a hole with a skewer, then put the cutting in – it’s easier that way!

QUEBEC

AU JARDIN DE JEAN-PIERRE
1070 RANG 1 OUEST
SAINTE-CHRISTINE    QC
819-858-2142

http://www.jardinjp.ca

LES PEPINIERES JASMIN LTEE
6305 HENRI-BOURASSA OUEST
ST LAURENT    QC
514-332-2978

http://www.jardinjasmin.com

PEPINIERE R Y LOCAS
3254 BOUL STE ROSE
FABREVILLE LAVAL    QC
450-622-0347

http://www.pepinierelocas.com

CENTRE DE JARDIN BROSSARD
6305 GRANDE ALLEE
BROSSARD    QC
450-443-2299

http://www.centredejardinbrossard.com

PEPINIERE Y YVON AUCLAIR
2125 SIR WILFRID LAURIER
ST BRUNO    QC
450-653-6311

http://www.pepiniereyvonauclair.com

A Birthday in the Miniature Garden

The Goddess statue is a favorite. I painted our Rose Trellis silver to match the furniture. It gives her a nice backdrop

ONTARIO

RIDEAU WOODLAND RAMBLE INC.
PO BOX 348
MERRICKVILLE    ON
613-258-3797

http://www.rideauwoodlandramble.com

MANITOBA

SHELMERDINE GARDEN CENTER LTD
7800 ROBLIN BLVD
WINNIPEG, MB
204-895-7203

http://www.shelmerdine.com

ST MARY’S NURSERY & GARDEN CENTER
2901 ST MARY’S RD
WINNIPEG, MB
204-255-7353

http://stmarysnurseryandgardencentre.ca

SASKATCHEWAN

WILSON`S GREENHOUSE & GARDEN
RR9 STN MAIN
SASKATOON, SK
306-955-9580

http://www.wilsonsgreenhouse.ca

A Birthday in the Miniature Garden

The stacked pots on the table is the preserved reindeer moss. If you keep it in shade, it won’t fade as fast.

ALBERTA

EAGLE LAKE NURSERIES LTD
BOX 2340
STRATHMORE, AB
403-934-3670

http://www.eaglelakenurseries.com

ELLERSLIE PLANT & GARDEN CENTRE
BOX 66015 HERITAGE RPO
EDMONTON, AB
780-988-6623

http://ellersliegift.com

HOLE’S GREENHOUSES & GARDENS
101 RIEL DR
ST ALBERT, AB
780-419-6808

http://www.holesonline.com

Millcreek Nursery Ltd
3103 17TH ST
EDMONTON, AB
780-469-8733

http://www.millcreeknursery.ca

GREENGATE GARDEN CENTRES LTD
14111 MACLEOD TRAIL S
CALGARY, AB
403-256-1212

http://greengate.ca

SALISBURY GREENHOUSE
PO BOX 3093
SHERWOOD PARK, AB
780-467-5743

http://salisburygreenhouse.com

GREEN HAVEN GARDEN CENTRES
BOX 124
LETHBRIDGE, AB
403-327-6172

http://www.greenhavengardensandnursery.com

GREENLAND GARDEN CENTRE
23108 HWY 16 E
SHERWOOD PARK, AB
780-467-7557

http://www.greenlandgarden.com

GA HOME & GARDEN CENTER LTD
620 GODDARD AVE NE
CALGARY, AB
403-274-4286
(Unable to find a website – call before making the trip.)

KIWI NURSERY
27007 TWP. RD. 532
SPRUCE GROVE, AB
780-962-5358

http://www.kiwinurseries.com

GOLDEN ACRES GARDEN CENTRE
1566 GERSHAW DR SW
MEDICINE HAT, AB
403-526-2378

http://www.goldenacre.ca

A Birthday in the Miniature Garden

I found the tiny paper-chain at a miniature show for $10. Yes, I could have made one myself – but it would have taken me a few attempts, a lot of patience and several hours to make it this pretty and perfect!

BRITISH COLUMBIA

ART KNAPPS PLANTLAND
11700 OLD CARIBOO HWY
PRINCE GEORGE, BC
250-963-7676

http://www.artknapps.ca

ART KNAPP GARDEN CENTRES
420 NUNAVUT WAY
KAMPLOOPS, BC
250-828-2111

http://www.artknapps.ca

ART KNAPP PENTICTION
670 DUNCAN AVE W
PENTICTON, BC
250-492-5703

http://www.artknapps.ca

ART KNAPP PORT COQUITLAM
1300 DOMINION AVE
PORT COQUITLAM, BC
604-942-7518

http://www.artknapps.ca

**There is an Art Knapp store at 1401 Hornby St., downtown Vancouver. I would assume there would be some overlap in inventory from their other locations but call first just in case. Vancouver store phone # 604-662-3303

A Birthday in the Miniature Garden

A wee garden makes a great gift – especially for the hard to shop for. They will love a gift from YOU!

BYLANDS NURSERIES LTD
1600 BYLAND RD HWY 97 S
KELOWNA, BC
250-769-4466

http://www.bylands.com

TRIPLE TREE NURSERYLAND
20503 LOUGHEED HWY
MAPLE RIDGE, BC
604-465-6015

http://www.tripletreenurseryland.com

DINTER NURSERY
2205 PHIPPS RD
DUNCAN, BC
250-748-2023

http://www.dinternursery.ca

NICO`S NURSERYLAND
830 28TH ST NE
SALMON ARM, BC
250-804-2004

http://www.nicosnurseryland.com

COLUMBIA VALLEY GREENHOUSE
8195 OLD WANETA RD
TRAIL, BC
250-368-8191
(Unable to find a website – call before making the trip.)

A Birthday in the Miniature Garden

Cobweb Houseleeks are Hens and Chicks with the webbing on them. It’s not a pest – it’s how they grow. The botanical name is Sempervivum arachnoideum – “arachnids” is a latin name for spider.

GEORAMA GROWERS
2870 GEORAMA ROAD
NELSON, BC
250-352-3468

http://www.georamagrowers.com

MINTER GARDENS
10015 YOUNG ST N
CHILLIWACK, BC
604-792-3799

http://www.mintergardens.com

TOP CROP NURSERYLAND
2101 CRANBROOK ST NORTH
CRANBROOK, BC
250-489-4555
(Unable to find a website – call before making the trip.)

ART’S NURSERY
9840 192ND ST
SURREY, BC
604-882-1201

http://www.artsnursery.com

DAVID HUNTER GARDEN CENTERS

15175 – 72ND AVE
SURREY, BC
604-590-2431

http://www.davidhuntergardencenters.com

SUNNYSIDE NURSERYLAND
2300 56TH ST
DELTA, BC
604-943-9712
(Unable to find a website – call before making the trip.)

MAPLE LEAF GARDEN CENTRES
1343 LYNN VALLEY RD
NORTH VANCOUVER, BC
604-922-2613

http://www.mapleleafgardencentre.ca

ELK LAKE GARDEN CENTER
5450 PAT BAY HWY
VICTORIA, BC
250-658-8812
(Unable to find a website – call before making the trip.)

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Planting Miniature Gardens Under Existing Trees

Planting Miniature Gardens Under Existing Trees

Before you plant miniature gardens under your existing tree check if the tree likes to be planted under first! (Google it!) Above, sedum spurium seems to tolerate the shade of a Rhododendron.

Planting Miniature Gardens Under Existing Trees

There is nothing so charming a place in the garden as under a big tree. It can be your own little world to escape to anytime you like. Hiding in the wall of branches is enchanting in itself, planting a miniature garden in the space only increases the real-life fantasyland – especially for kids.

Here are a few things to consider before you do, and note that not all situations are the same. The tiny plants will compete with the tree for water and nutrients, and the miniature garden plants must like the dry soil and shade.

Planting Miniature Gardens Under Existing Trees

After getting some miniature trees in the ground, the rest is easy. Remember to water your new plants until they are established.

Watch the Roots of the Tree

As a general rule, don’t cover the roots of the tree. Roots need air – that’s why you see them on top of the ground and busting out of sidewalks. Another popular misconception is that the roots are just as deep as the tree is tall. In recent years, this has been found to be fatally wrong as the roots are spread wide, are close to the surface, and can sometimes reach farther than the tree’s branches. Next time you see a major windstorm that knocks down huge trees, take note of the roots.

When planting a miniature garden underneath the big tree, keep the soil at the same ground level as the roots are. If you need to add compost, you may want to take away some of the existing soil carefully, and add the compost in order to maintain the level of the soil. Keep the roots that you see on the surface exposed as much as you can. Perhaps you can use the roots as logs in your miniature garden, or create a path beside it, leading to a focal point.

What Miniature Plants to Use

Use non-turf plants or plants that are not aggressive and won’t compete with the tree for nutrients. Any overly invasive plant or any grass-type should be avoided for the sake of the tree’s health. Annuals should be avoided as well, to save from disturbing the tree roots each season.

Good “bedding plants” for shade are Dwarf Lily Turf (the clumping one and I know I said non-turf plants, this is not a regular grass,) miniature Hostas, Dwarf Mondo Grass (again not a regular grass,) Baby Tears (invasive but shallow-rooted.) Canada Hemlocks remain our best shade-loving tree. See the different sizes and shapes in our online store here.

Start with Small Plants, Foliage is Your Friend

If you start with small plants, you won’t need to dig too deeply in between the roots and disturb them too much, and the trees and plants can grow in together. Always remember to take into consideration the adult size of the miniature garden plant – you want it to stay small – and leave space for the new plant to grow in. Unlike any other area in your garden, plants grown in and around a bigger tree cannot be removed easily.

Take into consideration that the tree will cast shade on the plants underneath so use plants that love shade for the best results. Choose plants for their leaf texture and color, that’s what you are left with after the flowers fade. Repeat your plantings, or plant in swaths right up to the base of the trunk to make it look natural. Miniature spring bulbs under deciduous trees are perfect – they will bloom and be done before the tree canopy flushes out for summer.

Planting Miniature Gardens Under Existing Trees

Have patience and experiment with the different ground covers until you know what you can grow – then do more of that. Above, the Scottish Moss makes a great miniature grassy knoll.

Water Until Established

Your new miniature garden plants will need care, watering and a bit of patience to get growing on their own. Hopefully you have chosen the right plant for the right place and it’s only a matter of time to get them established. Water deeply and infrequently to train the roots to find their own water. Fertilize your perennials gently throughout the growing season, miniature and dwarf conifers will need less fertilizer, if any, when grown in-ground. Mulch carefully each spring, and remember not to smother the above ground roots of the big tree.

What Trees Won’t Work

There are some trees that don’t like to be planted under. Do a little research beforehand to save yourself some grief by Googling “Can I plant under a ____?” and you should be able to get some quick insight. Here are a couple of examples: Black Walnut Trees emit a toxin in the soil that can distort or kill other plants. Oak trees hate having their roots disturbed. Elm and maple trees are very shallow-rooted and you may have difficulty in finding place to dig a planting hole. Other trees, especially full-sized conifers may have such a dense, evergreen canopy that very little light gets through where only full shade plants will work.

Fine Gardening lists what trees are more tolerant than others here: 
http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/planting-under-a-tree.aspx

So do your research, dig gently, plant small and water it in.

The plants we love to garden in miniature with are here.

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Gardening in Miniature book

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More About Miniature Garden Plants

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Some of the plants used for our Northwest Flower and Garden Show display were chosen as experiments to see how fast they grow up. The Parahebe, the small plant in front of the big Hinoki tree in the front blue pot, ‘looked’ like a good possibility – until it grew up.

More About Miniature Garden Plants

I STILL do it!

I fall for the cutest little plants, especially when they are in flower. I buy it, plant it and watch it grow – and grow and grow and grow! So not cool if you are a miniature gardener.

So. Not. Cool.

;o)

After all, we ARE looking from them to stay small or grow really slowly.

I’m getting a lot of emails lately asking about what kind of plants to use for miniature gardening – or how to find out what works in your backyard and what doesn’t. So I put this mini-directory together of previous blogs that have touched upon the subject in various ways. If your question isn’t answered here, please do let me know.

How to Find the Plants

This is part four of our beginner series. You’ll find the links to the rest of the series in the post. These are the steps to take for indoor and outdoor plants:


http://minigardener.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/miniature-gardening-104-how-to-find-the-plants/

Examples of What to Look For

The main points of what to look for with a few examples of plants that we like:


http://minigardener.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/miniature-garden-plants-examples-of-what-to-look-for/

Secrets to Success

In this post, I talk about some of the plants that trick us into thinking they would work – until they grow up:


http://minigardener.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/miniature-garden-plants-secrets-to-success/

About the Plants Behind the Winning Gardens

From our annual Miniature Garden Contest – I break down the plants that each winner used in their miniature gardens:


http://minigardener.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/an-inside-peak-at-the-miniature-plants-in-the-award-winning-gardens/

The Meaning of “Dwarf” and “Miniature”

Dwarf and miniature are often used in the names of plants to help sell them – which can be misleading. Here are the definitions and what we mean by “dwarf” and “miniature:”


http://minigardener.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/miniature-dwarf-plants-the-true-meaning/

Signs of the Plants Demise So You Can Prevent It

A discussion on the signals that plants give you when they are not happy.


http://minigardener.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/how-plants-die/

NWFGS miniature garden container

Four months later: the Parahebe sure has pretty flowers – that have overgrown the scale of the miniature garden! I’ll transfer it to one of my in-ground miniature gardens in the fall.

What Can be Grown in your Area?

The very best way to get to know what plants work in your area is your local garden center or nursery – NOT a big box store. You know, one of those cozy, plant-laden stores where you hear a soothing fountain off in the corner, the air is thick with humidity and you have to duck under trees and walk over the hose to get to the cashier – and this is inside the building – THAT kind garden center.

Take some time and walk around and get a feel for where they have the plants at the nursery.  You should find the right plants in the right place too. Note the zone info and what kind of soil they recommend for the plant. Then you can retreat home and look again at the space that you are thinking for your miniature garden if you haven’t decided that yet.

Here’s a quick-list of what you are looking for:

  • Miniature or slow-growing dwarf trees or shrubs
  • Groundcovers
  • Rockery Plants
  • Alpine Plants
  • Sedums & Succulents (small leafed, of course)

For a complete discussion of the trees, shrubs and plants for miniature gardening, look forward to the first comprehensive book on miniature gardening from Timber Press:

Gardening in Miniature

Now available for pre-order through Amazon.com, or wherever books are sold. To pre-order your signed-by-the-author copy, from our online store, click here. Ask your local garden center or favorite book seller to get it for you – it’s published by Timber Press.

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Mother’s Day in the Miniature Garden

Mother's Day in the Miniature Garden

In keeping with our holiday series this year, here is a special garden to help celebrate your Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day in the Miniature Garden

This is the fifth installment of our A Year in the Miniature Garden and today we celebrate Mother’s Day – which, should be everyday – if it wasn’t for her, you wouldn’t be here, reading this blog about her. Wait. Did that come out right? ;o)

If you are just catching up to this series, we are having a blast decorating throughout the holidays this year. Keeping the miniature garden the same, and swapping out the decorations and accessories each month for fun. Here are the previous ones:

Valentine’s Day in the Miniature Garden

St. Patrick’s Day in the Miniature Garden

Spring / Easter in the Miniature Garden

Earth Day in the Miniature Garden

Mother's Day in the Miniature Garden

A treat, refreshments and flowers, the perfect set-up for Mom!

I was looking for a way to simplify the decorations – and not to spend very much on them either. Then I remembered The Cutest How-To in the Whole Wide-World – miniature flower arranging!! Moms love flowers! So, I walked around the garden and picked any tiny flower I could, then walked around my neighbors garden (with permission, of course ;o) and picked up some small-leafed greenery too – conjuring my inner florist. Here’s what happened:

Mother's Day in the Miniature Garden

The tiny flowers with the white petals and pink centers are Variegated London Pride (Robertsoniana Saxifrage.) The ivory bell-flowers are Lily of the Valley (Convallaria magalis.) The variegated leafy branches are Little Heath Andromeda (Pieris japonica ‘Little Heath.’)

See the “vase?” It’s an old ceramic electrical insulator I had in my stash. I used a piece of duct tape to seal the bottom so it could hold water. The water stayed in for a couple of hours – long enough to enjoy!

Mother's Day in the Miniature Garden

The blue flowers are Grace Ward Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa ‘Grace Ward.’) White petal flowers are Dwarf London Pride (Saxifraga umbrosa ‘Primuloides.’)  The miniature yellow roses were donated by our friend Greg and we are trying to figure out the name.

As we covered in the previous blog on miniature flower arranging, the easiest way to arrange them is in your fingers. Once you have the wee flowers arranged in a bouquet, trim the stems and put them in in the vase. Your arrangement might fall out of place a bit, use a pair of round tweezers to face the flowers or to prop the stems up in the other foliage.

Mother's Day in the Miniature Garden

The “big” Johnny-Jump-Up Violet is the perfect focal point for this tiny arrangement. The Tricolor Violet is known by many different names and can get really invasive in some areas – but it is common wildflower and the butterflies love it apparently. The violet is accompanied by white Dwarf London Pride flowers (Saxifrage umbrosa ‘Primuloides,’) tips from the Tricolor Sedum (Sedum spurium ‘Tricolor’) and the green leafed filler is Boxleaf Euonymous (Euonymous japonicus ‘Microphyllus.’)

To all the Mom’s and Grandma’s out there:

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother's Day in the Miniature Garden

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The plants in the main garden, counterclockwise from the bottom, front:
- Hens and Chicks or Houseleeks (the red rosettes)
- Wooly Thyme
- Silver Mist Lily Turf (behind the flower vase)
- Blue Moon Sawara Cypress
- Miniature Juniper – the ‘Compressa’ Juniper’ (behind the sign)
- Cape Blanco Sedum (at the base of the sign)

Find the plants listed above here.  Note that all plants are not available at all times.

Find the miniature garden decks here.  Made of cedar, they come in “L” shaped too. Made in the USA.

Find the garden bench here. Available in tan and ivory colors too.

Find the cute birdhouse. The one shown as been painted. Made in the USA.

Our How-To PDF instant download is here. It’s helpful to get you going!

Need a kit to help get you started?  Find them here.

Gardening in Miniature

Now available for pre-order through Amazon.com or wherever books are sold. Signed copies will be available through our online store soon. Ask your local garden center or favorite book seller to get it for you – it’s published by Timber Press.

Join us for more fun in the miniature garden and sign up for our FREE monthly Mini Garden Gazette newsletter. You’ll get a free PDF, The Best of the Mini Garden Gazette delivered straight to your inbox after you confirm your subscription through your email. Join us here.

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