Posts Tagged fairy garden

Earth Day in the Miniature Garden

22/04/2013 at 12:10 pm · Filed under Because it's fun, D.I.Y. Ideas, Garden Art, Miniature Garden Accessories, Miniature Plants ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Earth Day in the Miniature Garden

A continuation of our Miniature Garden Series – Happy Earth Day, Mother Earth!

Earth Day in the Miniature Garden

If you are new to this super-fun series, we are in the process of creating at least twelve different themes for the same miniature garden this year. See what we’ve come up with to celebrate Earth Day today.

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

What else do you put in your miniature garden for Earth Day except more earth-lovin’ plants?

Need some tips for ways to help the Earth? It’s also a great way to refresh your memory of the many different ways you can help us help ourselves: the Environmental Protection Agency’s website is here: http://www.epa.gov/earthday/tips.htm

Earth Day in the Miniature Garden

We got the globe from a tube of animal toys made by Safari Ltd. Find the “Toobs” at your local toy store. Steve glued it to a skewer so we could mount it in the garden.

Earth Day in the Miniature Garden

Happy Earth Day!

Where to find the items shown:

The plants in this container, counterclockwise from the bottom, front:
- Hens and Chicks
- Wooly Thyme
- Silver Mist Lily Turf
- Blue Moon Sawara Cypress
- Miniature Juniper – the ‘Compressa’ variety or  the ‘Minitaure’  variety works. ~>  Find them 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.

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

Find the wee gnome here.

Find the Made in the USA birdhouse. Available in purple too.

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.

Join us for your FREE Mini Garden Gazette here. And get a free “Best of the Mini Garden Gazette #1″ just for signing up. Confirm through your email to get the pdf sent straight to your inbox.

Let us know what occasion or holiday you would like to see in the comment box below!

Earth Day in the Miniature Garden

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Miniature Garden Plants: Examples of What to Look For

11/04/2013 at 1:51 pm · Filed under Because it's fun, Fairy Gardening, For the New Gardener, Miniature Plants, Resources ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Miniature Garden Plants

The subtle flowers on the barberries flush out with the spring growth.

Miniature Garden Plants:
Examples of What to Look For

It’s that time of year again. The garden is calling but the weather is not welcoming. Gills are starting to grow around my jawbone with all the rain we’ve been having here in Seattle – as I watched a major snow storm cut through the middle of the US, up to Canada and moving north and east this morning – oh wait, look, it’s changed to a severe storm with tornado warnings. Great! Ugh. Does anyone have a magic wand?

No?

Weather be damned!

At least you can start preparing and planning your plantings, eh?

Here are some new trees that we enjoy in our miniature gardens that we’ll use as examples of what to look for. Beware of the “fairy garden plants” that are being sold these days, most of the recommended plants that we are seeing out on the Internet this season will not work out well in the miniature garden. Not all plants are a miniature garden plant! When someone says that, you know they don’t “get” what we do. If you don’t buy from a trusted source that knows about miniature gardening, do your own research before purchasing. Plants are an investment and, with a little diligence, you can find one that will suit your idea AND your growing environment to create a low maintenance miniature garden that is a joy to own.

Points to remember when miniature plant shopping:

  • Look for slow growing plants – example: miniature conifers that grow 1” per year or slow-growing dwarfs at less than 3″ per year.
  • Look for small-leaves with small branches or stems – example: miniature daisies, the leaves AND the flowers are both tiny and stay tiny.
  • Look for plants that can stay small, example, the Jacqueline Hillier Elm is a naturally dwarf tree that can be pruned in the winter to slow down the growth rate even more.
  • Decide where your mini garden will live, then pick the plant to suit that spot. “Right plant, right place.”

Here are some more examples from the online store:

Miniature Garden Plants - Dwarf Wisteria

The Dwarf Wisteria is a perfect miniature-looking shrub with leggy trunks and a feathery green canopy.

Dwarf Wisteria or Millettia japonica ‘Hime Fuji’

This Dwarf Wisteria is not like the full-sized wisteria that we see as huge vines taking over arbors and buildings. We’ve been testing this one for the last 5 years here at our studios and this rare gem is well behaved and low-maintenance. The dwarf Wisteria will eventually grow into a bushy adult plant but, in the meantime, it looks like a shrub in miniature with its bare legs and leafy canopy. It grows much slower than listed here in our Seattle climate. It’s listed as hardy to zone 6 or -10F, but you can treat it as a tropical plant and move it inside for the winter. See more details on the Dwarf Wisteria here.

Miniature Garden Plants - Boyd's Willow

Boyd’s Willow grows slooowly to 12″ tall. The furry gray leaves add a different color and texture to the miniature garden bed.

Boyd’s Miniature Willow (Salix boydii)

A miniature willow for the miniature garden!
 Yeah, I know, it’s just too stinkin’ cute! Boyd’s Willow was discovered in Scotland and grows really slowly to about 12 inches tall. It’s a hardy little gem for just about any miniature garden scene. Round, furry, blue-gray leaves are perched on little gnarled branches. Needs sharp, well draining soil (add sand or extra perlite) and is tolerant of many challenges, including deer, drought, pollution, and salt . The grower has this listed as a zone 4 plant, or hardy to -30F. See more details on Boyd’s Willow here.

Miniature Garden Plants - Silver Fox Hoary Willow

You can tell by the name, Silver Fox Hoary Willow is from Newfoundland. The word “hoary,” means grayish-white. They are just starting to flush in for the spring above.

Silver Fox Hoary Willow

Discovered in Newfoundland, the Silver Fox Hoary Willow will grow slowly and change with the seasons in your miniature garden. The tiny silver leaves are a new texture to add to your scene, they’ll drop the leaves in fall and show off their wonderful yellow stems throughout the winter. The Silver Fox Hoary Willow prefers wet soil or boggy areas and does best in a cool climate. A trusted Bonsai subject too – so we know it can tolerate pruning to slow down the growth rate even further (prune in winter.) Hardy to zone 3 or -40F. See more details on the Silver Fox Hoary Willow here.

Miniature Garden Plants - Golden Devine Barberry

Golden AND devine! The Golden Devine Barberry is proving to be a really sweet miniature garden tree. Turns yellow-er in the sun, more chartreuse in the shade.

Golden Devine Miniature Barberry – Berberis thunbergii ‘Golden Devine’

Yep! We are calling this one “miniature” because it only grows 1 to 2″ per year. The adult size is only 12″ tall and spreads to 18″ but we can keep it trimmed to slow the growth rate down even further. The Golden Devine Barberry has fantastic coloring with the pink buds and green leaf combination. Leaves stay small and it’s a lovely overall shape too – like a typical shrub! Small flowers bloom in the early spring. Foliage turns greener in the shade, or more yellow in the sun – and will get a bit pink in the hot, summer sun – but it is best for a part sun/cool sun spot.
 Barberry’s can be grown in containers or right in the ground. Deciduous, has thorns, drought tolerant once established – perfect for a low maintenance miniature garden. Zones 4 to 8. See more details on the Golden Devine Barberry here.

Miniature Garden Plants - Golden Tourch Barberry

The Golden Torch Barberry flushes out in pink buds in springtime, and will get a bit of pink around it’s leaf edges during the summer. Pretty!

Miniature Garden Plants - Helmond Pillar Barberry

Helmond Pillar Barberry’s berries. It holds on to the berries into the winter, after the leaves have dropped. Flowers in the springtime, red leaves in the summer. Very cool!

 

Golden Torch Barberry – Berberis thunbergii ‘Golden Torch’

and

Helmond Pillar Barberry – Berberis thunbergii ‘Helmond Pillar’

We group these two barberries together because the only difference we see so far it the color and the growth rate – the Golden Torch is a little slower growing than the Helmond Pillar. Both grow in tall columns, bloom in spring, can tolerate pruning (that will encourage branching,) drought tolerant and oh ya, THE COLORS!! You can’t beat a splash of color for your miniature garden scene. Plant several in a row for a wee hedge.
 Deciduous, has thorns,  hardy zones 4 to 8 or -30F. See more details on the Golden Torch Barberry here and the Helmond Pillar Barberry here.

Miniature Garden Plants - Tom Thumb Cotoneaster

The Tom Thumb Cotoneaster can be kept trimmed into the cutest little ball. The tiny leaves are perfect for your miniature garden. Planted here in the center of the pot.

Tom Thumb Cotoneaster – Cotoneaster apiculata ‘Tom Thumb’

The Tom Thumb Cotoneaster is fun little shrub for the miniature garden. The leaves are tinier than most of the other Cotoneasters and the lil’ Tom Thumb can lend itself to the smallest of settings –  AND he turns color and drops its in autumn too for extra added pleasure. A perfect companion to conifers, it grows slowly (2” to 4” per year) into a low spreading mat that can be kept trimmed anytime but preferable when it is dormant in the winter. Pretty white flowers turn to ornamental red berries by fall. Hardy, rugged, drought tolerant and a pleasure to grow. Hardy to zones 5 to 7 or -20F. See more details on Tom Thumb Cotoneaster here.

Miniature Garden Plants - Thyme-Leaf Cotoneaster

The Thyme-Leaf Cotoneaster shown trimmed into an apple tree form. It will get better and better with age. Flowers in early summer followed by bright red berries for the rest of the year.

Thyme-Leaf Cotoneaster – Cotoneaster microphylla ‘Thyminifolius’

A darling little shrub that we have been searching years for is now available in limited supply. It is highly coveted as a tree for the miniature garden because it can be trained into an apple tree – the cotoneaster berries look like wee apples (but not edible!) Can be trimmed or pruned anytime but preferably in the winter so you don’t cut off the white flower buds that flush out in early summer. The pretty red berries follow and some will hang on until the following spring. Great in pots and loved by bonsai artists. See more details on the Thyme-Leaf Cotoneaster here.

Need plants for your Miniature Garden? We’ve been serving the miniature garden hobby since 2001. Visit our store here. 

Did you know? We can hold your order until you are ready for them! Go ahead and place your order with us and let us know when to ship it. If spring happens sooner than expected, let us know and we’ll ship it – if winter is still hanging on, let us know and we’ll hold them for another couple of weeks.

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Miniature Garden Workshop Tips

21/03/2013 at 1:01 pm · Filed under Because it's fun, Customer Interaction, D.I.Y. Ideas, Miniature Garden Accessories, Miniature Plants, The Business ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Miniature Garden Workshop Tips

For a successful miniature workshop – and with very little effort-  you can take care not to set your students up for failure with plants that work and pots that last. 

Miniature Garden Workshop Tips

Spreading the joy of miniature gardening is just as much fun as creating one. With our beloved hobby travelling like wildfire throughout the country, and the world, there are many fellow miniature gardeners who have stepped up to teach it this year. Here are some pointers that we developed after teaching this hobby for the last decade.

Looking for a Miniature Garden class? – If you are looking for a class in your area, the first place to start is your local garden center or nursery. Give them a call, find them on Facebook or, better yet, go and visit them to see what’s going on and say hello.

Miniature Hobby Farm Garden

We punched a bunch of holes in the bottom of this galvanized tub before planting to give the excess water a place to go.

Here is a last-minute checklist for our fellow miniature gardeners who are conducting workshops and classes this spring and summer.

  • Group plants horticulturally to make it easy-peasy for your students to assemble their gardens. Put indoor plants together, outdoor plants together, full sun, full shade etc. Group plants that like dry soil together – or moist soil together too.
  • Not all plants will make a great miniature garden. The satisfaction and reward of a miniature garden is to have it grow and weave together over several seasons, if not for years and years. If the student has to repot her “investment” in two months time and buy new plants – they will be disappointed and may not try again. Simply put, plants that stay small and grow slow are the best choices to start with. See what’s in our store for more examples here.
  • Gather a wide selection of containers if it’s an open class where students choose their own. Some may live in condos and want lightweight containers, while others may have a larger space to work with and want to plant a bigger miniature garden.
  • Choose pots or containers with a drainage hole. Just about any container or teacup can be drilled.
    Miniature Garden in a barbecue

    I chose this “container” because it was new and, being a barbecue, it already had holes for drainage. My plants are true miniatures and I know I can keep this together for years before it will need repotting. (I shelter it from the hot, summer sun because it is metal.)

    Don’t set your students up for failure by telling them that anything can be used for a miniature garden, it simply will not work for everyone. Broaden your students success rates by providing a drilling service, or only recommending containers with drainage holes.

  • Give careful consideration of what you are recommending to plant in. Yes, that old drawer or broken pot may look cute for the first couple of months after the miniature garden is planted but, after a while, your still stuck with an old drawer or broken pot! As the miniature garden keeps growing more magical and fun throughout the seasons, you may regret not investing in a nice container that will last and not fall apart when it’s moved. Note that baskets lined with plastic are temporary containers and will not last.
  • Recommend accessories that are weatherproof and/or are staked to hold their place in the soil. It is cute to add wee books, refreshments and tiny details but they will weather quickly and get lost in the garden – which is hard on some people’s budgets and their patience. Put the focus on what will stand up to the weather for the more satisfaction.
  • Provide some snacks or refreshments to keep everyone engaged. Miniature garden workshops can sometimes take up to four hours at times. By providing a little nourishment, you can avoid people having to leave early because they need food. Make sure to mention this in your flyer or ad, to let the people know. Better yet, team up with a local caterer and make it a luncheon-event. The students can eat while you teach, then plant afterwards.

Need to know how to build a miniature garden like a pro? Here is our complete instructions on how to create a miniature garden, it includes some in-ground tips and tricks, scale information and recommended plants to use.

Stressed out?
Frazzled?
Don’t have time for a vacation?

Visit your local garden center
for a few minutes of peace.
Being surrounded by
plants and flowers will
dissolve your tension and
help get you centered again.

Like this? You’ll like our Mini Garden Gazette – join us here for more fun in the miniature garden. 

Get on the first edition list here through Amazon for our upcoming Gardening in Miniature: Create Your Own Tiny Living World, by Yours Truly, published by Timber Press. Available this summer!

Miniature Garden Patio Solutions

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Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show #4

20/02/2013 at 4:26 pm · Filed under Because it's fun, Customer Interaction, D.I.Y. Ideas, Garden Art, Life-sized Gardening, Miniature Garden Accessories, Miniature Plants, The Business ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. This year’s display is called ‘The Private Realm of Marie Antoinette.”

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show #4

Welcome to the fourth blog of our Northwest Flower and Garden Show series. In case you missed it, here are the first installments: #1 of the Series,  Part Deux, Part III.

Aaaaand today was the big opening day of the show and here is our display in pictures – we know you’ve been waiting for it!

We teamed up with Bruce Bailey of Heavy Petal Nursery in Moses Lake, Wa, who did the full-sized plant design and installment, as well as the painting on the backdrop.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

A pretty blend of mulberry-reds with a variety of different greens make up the color scheme. We wanted to blend the meadow with the interior and what better way to do that is with a carpet of plants. The ferns, grasses, moss and flowers mix up the textures to make it interesting to the eye.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Hinoki Cypress is a favorite tree for the miniature garden. This one is over 12 years old and is still a great tree for the tiny garden.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Marie Antoinette had rivers and streams built into the landscape so she could have ducks and swans. The green stone sheets available in our online store really helped with the stone wall.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Irish Moss (Sagina subulata) creates an instant lawn. The small bush at the front is a Parahebe that we are testing to see if it behaves this summer. The yellow grass in the river is Miniature Sweet Flag (Acorus griminess ‘Ogon’)

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

The details lure in the viewer for a closer look.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Lil’ Hameau in HO scale. The gangly Boulevard Cypresses create the illusion of tall trees. The small details, combined with the tiny gravel, deliver the scale of the garden to the viewer. 

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Teenie tiny! The grounds close to some of the buildings were kept simple while the larger gardens surrounded the palace, like the popular Gardens of Versailles. That’s a Majestic Japanese Holly on the left that has kept its berries from last summer.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Marie Antoinette was known for her shoes and her fashion but she enjoyed the outdoors and gardens too. She built the Hameau on the palace grounds to simulate a small farm complete with sheep and chickens so she could have a place to play with her children.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

The Gardens of Versailles are represented by topiary shoes. The classical diamond motif is repeated on the living cushion.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

All I need is a tiny dancer! A little pagoda cinches the scale of the tiny Pixie Dust Dwarf Alberta Spruce. That grass is Irish moss that has been starved – it’s small, yellowy and mossy – and perfect for this wee scene! 

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Must get a better picture! Here’s a close up.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Maidenhair Ferns from Fancy Fronds Nursery are mixed with English Daisies.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Steve layered in the back of the display to look like the outside of the Hameau. Marie Antoinette staged several of her outdoor buildings to look like an old farmhouse and barn. This would be an interesting technique to use for miniatures.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

A lovely blend of textures and colors by Bruce.

Miniature Gardening at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show

That small Almond Tree on the right is just about to burst into bloom – just in time!

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Valentine’s Day in the Miniature Garden

06/02/2013 at 2:24 pm · Filed under Because it's fun, D.I.Y. Ideas, Garden Art, Miniature Garden Accessories, Resources ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Valentine's Day in the Miniature Garden

Valentine’s Day in the Miniature Garden can be loaded with decor – or kept really simple with one or two accent pieces.

Valentine’s Day in the Miniature Garden

Creating miniature gardens is so much fun because you can adapt them to any situation, any theme or any occasion. But another fun thing to do with this new-again hobby – and Valentine’s Day gives you a perfect opportunity to – is to share them. A miniature garden can easily deliver a personalized message sent straight from the heart.

If you are short on decorations, a simple accent piece can still send a huge message. A red chair, an engraved heart or ‘hugs’ rock, or this simple how-to can send sweet love to your Valentine.

Don’t have a Valentine? Then it’s a perfect excuse to treat yourself and do something YOU love!

Want to see more of the 2013 Valentine Garden? They will be posted in our February newsletter, The Mini Garden Gazette. Join our email list here and get instant access to the archives after confirming through your email.

How to Make Valentine’s Day Decorations for Your Miniature Garden:

We found the package of foam hearts at JoAnns Fabrics (40% off!) to make these really quick decorative garden stakes that you can add to any miniature garden and get your message love across.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • One package of foam cutouts
  • Wood popsicle sticks &/or coffee sticks
  • Paint colors of your choice
  • Scissors
  • Paintbrush
  • Sandpaper

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AAAAND the craft stores now carry all kinds of cutouts for every occasion! Paint the stakes to match the holiday color to make it look more polished. We tried writing on them with a small Sharpie marker, but it turned out a bit faded – the foam doesn’t accept the ink very well.

Be sure to take out the heart stakes after the 14th and wait for the wood to dry before storing them for next year. Like the miniature holiday decor, they should last for a long time if you don’t leave them out in the weather all year.

See our previous post of gift-giving ideas: The Most Incredible Gift of All Time. Make Quick and Affordable Gifts. A Miniature Garden for Every Budget.

More ideas from your  Miniature Garden Center:

- Love You Forever Love

- Ever-Lasting Hugs

- A Flower Forever

- A Sweet Cherry-Red Garden Chair

- A Cherry-Red Bench

 

Miniature Garden Center

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One Giant Step for Miniature Gardening

03/01/2013 at 3:08 pm · Filed under Because it's fun, Gardening in Miniature Book ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Timber Press Does a Little Miniature Gardening

One Giant Step for Miniature Gardening

This miniature garden eCard sent out by Timber Press before the holidays. It appears that the folks down at their headquarters in Portland have been bitten – and are quite smitten – by miniature gardening!

One small step for Timber Press, one giant step for miniature gardening.

Betcha can’t make only one! Lol!

Look forward to the book release in July of this year.

Join our mailing list to get your own personally signed copy here.

Happy New Year!

Your Miniature Garden Center

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A Miniature Garden for Every Budget

14/12/2012 at 3:24 pm · Filed under Because it's fun, D.I.Y. Ideas, Miniature Garden Accessories, Miniature Plants ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Miniature Garden Gifts

Spread joy, creativity and smiles this Holiday Season with Miniature Gardening. [Read all about this garden in last week's post. I put this photo through some filters to make it look old, but it's the same garden.]

A Miniature Garden for Every Budget

One of the many advantages of miniature gardening is that you can easily capture the charm of the hobby without breaking the bank. Create a simple vignette with a miniature chair placed beside a tree or next to the “trunk” of plant, sprinkle small pebbles down as a quick patio, and place a small water fountain off to the side and you have a peaceful place to escape to anytime you wish.

Here are some combinations that have come from our customers over the past week and we noticed they were for all kinds of budgets. With plants or without plants, you can give the gift of miniature gardening that is easy on the wallet, but heavy with inspiration and fun.

For Under $20

A couple of well-placed accessories can add the charm of a miniature garden, without digging into you bank account.

A couple of well-placed accessories can add the charm of a miniature garden, without digging into you bank account

Wood Wheelbarrow ->>
Terra Cotta Pot with Saucer
½ lb Small Ivory Pebbles
Garden Tool Set = $17.96*

More fun combos under $20 include:

- An elegant Dolphin Fountain in faux gray stone paired with a traditional Medium-sized Garden Bench in the matching color for $18.98*

- The new sturdy and very fun Small Kidney-Shaped Pond with the cutest Koi Fish ever for $17.98*

- The favorite Moonfrost Canada Hemlock changes colors throughout the seasons and likes to be trimmed in late winter, combined with the Platt’s Black Brass Buttons that look like miniature ferns. This pair would do well in a pot for part shade or cool, eastern sun for $19.98*

Under $30

- Pixie Dust Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Retro Red Bench = $27.98*

Miniature Garden Gifts

A simple tree with a bench can be just as charming. This Pixie Dust Dwarf Spruce is only 8″ tall and will grow very sloooowly!

- Twig Fence with Stakes
Raging Fire Pit
Rabbit Bench, Aged
Mother Earth Tones, Tumble Mini Stone = $28.96*

- Geisha Japanese Holly
Small Straight Bench
Stone Patio Sheet, Small Sheet = $28.97*

Under $40

- Small Kidney-shaped Pond,
Grapevine Birdbath,
Large Garden Bench,
Miniature Pebbles
Turtle = $39.95*

- Variegated English Boxwood
Baby Tears
Miniature Garden Chair
Sea Green Stone Patio Sheet, Small Sheet
Wee Mole = $39.95*

Miniature Garden Gifts

Miniature gardening is accessible to everyone. You can add on to an existing collection, or start to build your own.

Under $50

- The new large Lagoon-shaped Pond next to a wee Adirondack Bench, with a Hanging Terracotta Pot w. Hook in the garden bed and a Terra Cotta Pot & Saucer is only $46.96*

<<- The ever-popular Jean’s Dilly Dwarf Spruce is a hardy choice for a container or in-ground. Combined with the Garden Tools Set, a Mini Patio Mix Kit with Small Brick Sheet to build a custom mini patio wherever you want (those bricks are high-fired and very durable,) add the Squirrel for whimsy for $49.95*

Need help choosing a gift for the Two Green Thumb’s miniature gardener on your list? Call us and we can look up what they already have, and recommend items for you. We’ll stay within your budget and get your order in the mail – pronto!

Miniature Garden Gifts

The Fernspray Hinoki Cypress is so pretty with it’s lovely colors – it’ll blush a plum color if it gets cold enough. Hardy to -20F.

Under $75

Large Cedar Lattice is made here in the US and it’s staked on metal rods to hold upright in the garden soil. The Lagoon-shaped Pond is very fun to work with – the birds will use it as a birdbath! The Cherub Birdbath is staked so it can stay upright in the soil too. The Fernspray Hinoki Cypress is a wonderful tree to grow as well as being very pretty! $73.96*

Under $100

Miniature Juniper
Blue Moon Sawara Cypress
Elfin Thyme
Miniature Daisies
Mini Patio Mix Kit
Gray flagstone Patio Sheet
Garden Bench, Pretty Blue
Bunny Rabbit = $99.92*

(*Prices don’t include shipping or WA State tax on WA orders.)

Act soon though – we are not able to restock most of our items before the 25th and quantities are limited!

You have a choice of which shipping method to use when you check out of store, and you will get the different prices listed to help in your decision. Parcel post takes 7 to 10 days and should get there before the 25th but it’s not guaranteed. There’s still plenty of time for USPS Priority Mail and the cut-off date is the 20th.

If you are not sure of what to order, give us a call or email and we’ll help get you it sorted, help you stay on budget and get you the best shipping rate that we can!

We have Paypal gift certificates too and they are available anytime!

Join us for more Miniature Garden fun!

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How to Save Money, Have Fun and Give Great Gifts this Holiday

15/11/2012 at 1:50 pm · Filed under Because it's fun, Customer Interaction, The Business ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Miniature Garden Arbor in a Part Shade Garden

Miniature Garden Arbor is part of our Anniversary Sale that’s on until November 30th.

How to be Save Money, Have Fun and Give Great Gifts this Holiday

The Anniversary Sale is ON!!

We are now in the young teen years of this business of spreading the Joy of Miniature Gardening. We are 11 years old this year! (Note that we will be skipping the attitude and the tantrums of a typical teen. ;o) We are evolving and growing each year thanks to your support throughout all these years.

Use this gift-crafting-time to practice your miniature garden skills, get your ideas out there &
make FANTASTIC personalized gifts!
See what’s on sale now!

Eleven years ago this month, we started selling miniature gardens at the Fremont Sunday Market here in Seattle, WA. We branched out (yuck, yuck!) slowly to other street markets in the greater Seattle area to spread the word and feel the response before we went “all in.” Internet and library searches came up empty for any variation of the words “miniature gardening,” there were no signs of anyone doing the level of gardening that we were doing save for only one lonely company back east making fairy garden accessories (Gnomenculture.) So, we were left to spread the word boot-strapping-grass-roots style – and spread it we did! Checkout the photos on this blog post from last year here to see some of our beginnings.

“Hanging out our shingle” in touristy street markets, selling at garden and miniature shows – while connecting personally with everyone who came into our booths – really laid the groundwork for us and our message travelled far and wide. Demonstrating, talking and teaching the miniature garden hobby at numerous garden centers and garden clubs helped get the message to other green-thumbers too.

Miniature Gardening in South Africa

A couple of weeks after one big garden show, I got an email from South Africa thanking me for introducing them to Miniature Gardening!

It’s funny to recall the very first garden club I spoke at, miniature gardening was met with such skeptism that several of the women  asked, “You’re really going to make a business out of this?” and looked at me sideways. Then I found this quote by Grayson Marshall, “If people aren’t laughing at your dreams… then your dreams aren’t big enough!” 

You can make a four-inch miniature garden in a few minutes,  a big garden can be completed within an hour. The trick is to have all the ingredients ready at hand. See what’s up in the store now. 

Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, California– you name it, we had people visit us from all over the world! (We took names for our mailing list, which is how we knew our reach. Note that was a “mail” and not “email”  list, THAT’s how long we’ve been at it!) Here’s another blog post with more background and history here. In an interview with HGTV.com last week, Danny Bonvissuto captures our beginnings in a few sentences –  up in her gardening blog here. We now have fellow miniature gardeners (Fellow MGs) from every state on of the Union and just as many worldwide – check out this little garden from Turkey:

Miniature Gardening in Turkey

Miniature Gardening in Turkey – this is by Ozgur in Mersine, Icel, Turkey. She made everything herself, including the teddy bears and the completely adorable rope furniture.

So look forward to more new and innovative ideas from Two Green Thumbs Miniature Garden Center this coming year. The main differences between us and “the new guys” are simply experience, passion and great customer service. We have been gardening in miniature and studying the nuances of the gardens for well over eleven years. We don’t just sell the plants and accessories, we plant the plants and watch how they grow before passing them on to you. We use the accessories in our own gardens to make sure what works is sturdy, durable and doesn’t end up in the landfill. We are just as in love with this idea as you are. We are miniaturists who love gardening – or you can call us gardeners who love miniatures – either way, we’re hooked! We’ve been selling online for over 10 years, we have secretly shopped “the other guys” and yes, we know give great customer service, we pack with the utmost of care and we have very competitive postage rates!

Gift-giving is the perfect excuse to make Miniature Gardens – to try out some of your ideas and to play with a different assortment of plants. Everyone loves a thoughtful, personalized gift made especially with them in mind – no matter how small it is.

Look forward to another year of creative, crafty, garden fun. Our brand new, definitive guide on Miniature Gardening by the world’s top garden publisher, Timber Press, Gardening in Miniature: Create Your Own Tiny Living World is due out in the summer so it’s a big year for us. (BTW – You’ll want two copies, one for your coffee table and one for the potting bench!)

Join us in celebrating the Joy of Miniature Gardening. This month, for our anniversary, we are trying something completely different – because we love to try different things – we’ve put over 50 of our best sellers on sale at up to 25% off!! Trees, plants, furniture, tools, fairy items and more are up in the sale department now – go here and see what’s on sale! Hurry, quanitities are limited and the sale ends on November 30th

To get this kind news before it goes public, join our email list here!

Anniversary Sale at the Miniature Garden Center

PS – We have miniature garden PLANTS on sale too! Until November 30th only!

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An Inside Peek at the Miniature Plants in the Award-Winning Gardens

08/11/2012 at 5:42 pm · Filed under Customer Interaction, D.I.Y. Ideas, Miniature Plants, Resources ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Laney's Miniature Garden

Laney’s Miniature Garden. Laney got a new camera so I thought to show off a clearer picture of her garden that won Honorable Mention. Laney lives and gardens in Mississippi.

An Inside Peek at the Plants in the Award-Winning Gardens

Everyone had a ton of fun with the Annual Miniature Garden Contest and it was great to see such a variety of plants and personalities. After years of holding miniature garden workshops, I can safely say, no two miniature gardens are alike – just like the people who made them!

There were some questions on the plants used in the winning gardens so here is a list of the plants with a little bit of insight from a fellow MG (Miniature Gardener.)

Glenna's Miniature Garden

Glenna from NY won Best Miniature Garden in a Container.

Best Container: Glenna’s planter should stay together for a few years, with some maintenance every two to three years with diving the ground covers to keep them from spreading too much. The trees and shrubs can be pruned back gently every now and to control their direction and their growth rate. All the plants in this pot are ideal for full sun, regular water but let the soil dry out to barely damp in between watering sessions to avoid overwatering. The plastic pot will help keep the soil damp too. A great combo visually and horticulturally.

Clockwise from the back back left corner:

- Thyme-Leaf Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster thyminifolia (July’s blooms turn to September’s berries, prune in late winter to keep its shape and to slow down the growth rate. Pronounce it Kaw-tone-ee-ass-ter.)
- Irish Moss, Sagina subulata (under the Cotoneaster, divide every 2 or 3 years.)
- Elfin Thyme, Thymus serpyllum ‘Elfin‘ (an ideal miniature plant)
- Irish Moss, Sagina subulata (again, bottom right corner)
- Fairy Moss in the Pond, Azolla (also called mosquito fern, duckweed fern, water fern)
***Aggressive grower! Illegal in TX and LA. Keep contained at all times. Do not dump in waterways. Please be responsible about this one! ***
- Platt’s Black Brass Buttons, Leptinella squalida ‘Platt’s Black’ (looks like mini ferns! Here is the New Zealand variety with prettier tones throughout.)
*Aggressive in-ground. Prune judiciously in spring, divide every year to keep it from running.*
- Mother Lode Juniper, Juniper horizontalis ‘Mother Lode’ (it’s a ground cover shrub so it stays low, loves drier soil and full sun.)

Karen's Miniature Garden Pumpkin Village

Karen’s Miniature Garden Pumpkin Village is in CA.

Best Halloween: Karen’s Pumpkin Village leaves us thinking, “Where could I do that?” Lol! The moss in the top trough looks like a type of sheet moss found in MA, where Karen is from. The planted trough in the front should last for years, again with some maintenance with the ground covers. The big-leafed plant that you see throughout the garden, I think are Forget-Me-Not self-seeded-starts – a weedy, self-sowing perennial that I bet Karen will pull out when it starts to grow up. This is a nice grouping for part to full sun with regular watering. Again, let the soil dry out to barely damp in between watering sessions to avoid overwatering.

Bottom trough, from the very left side:

- Juniper Blue Star, Juniperus ‘Blue Star’ (I think, it is cut off in the photo, loves the sun.)
- E1 Evaluator Hinoki Cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘E1 Evaluator’ (green ball to the left of the ladder, part sun to full sun, will maintain that ball shape.)
- Sedum button, Sedum dasyphyllum (the blue-green plant at the base of the ladder, flowers in summer, wait for new growth at the crown, then shear back.)
- E1 Evaluator Hinoki Cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘E1’ (another green ball to the right of the ladder, a rare, sloooow grower.)
- Scottish moss, Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’  (front, cascading down, needs dividing every 2 or 3 years, can be grown in part sun or full sun.)
- Golden Dwarf Hinoki Cypress, Chameacyparis obtusa ‘Nana Lutea’ (grows slowly to a nice upright, broad shape, can stay in that container without blocking the village for about 3 to 4 years.)

Mary Jane's Miniature Garden

Mary Jane’s Miniature Garden is so on-trend with the pretty blues! From NE.

People’s Choice: Mary Jane’s miniature garden is very on-trend with the pretty blue patio and pot. She could move this garden indoors for the winter if there is plenty of light for the boxwood tree. Outside, if the container is in full sun, the boxwood may get an orange cast to the leaves that is called “winter bronzing.” The green color returns quickly after the weather warms up in the spring. To avoid it changing colors, give the tree more shade. This pot will do well in part shade or even indoors in bright indirect light, with regular watering – let the soil dry out to barely damp in between watering sessions to avoid overwatering. This pot should be able to stay together for a couple of years before the ground cover, Blue Star Creeper, needs refreshing.

- Graham Blandy Boxwood, Buxus sempervirens ‘Graham Blandy’ (tree in center, see above paragraph for growing tips. We normally don’t recommend a lot of fertilizer for our miniature garden plants, but the boxwoods will need some during the growing season.)
- Blue Star Creeper, Pratia angulata (underneath the tree, and I think she has the runners growing up the trellises. I’ve read somewhere that this can be grown indoor too.)

Debbie's Miniature Garden

Debbie’s Miniature Garden is in CA.

Honorable Mention: Debbie from CA gets a little clever with her plantings if I have identified them correctly! I’m was never good at “guess that plant” when I was working at the nursery but I’m going to make a stab at it now. This combo is great for warmer regions in full or part sun, the Cryptomeria needs regular water (but not wet) but the soil around the Jade will need to be left to dry in between watering sessions. To get around this, water only the Cryptomeria regularly and check the soil close to the Jade by poking your finger an inch down to make sure it is dry before watering.

From left to right:

- Jade Tree, Crassula ovata, (trimmed into a tree form)
- Japanese Cedar, Cryptomeria japonica (tree behind the bench, a baby conifer. Prune away bottom-most branches for more a tree look. Part sun, regular water.)
- Scottish moss, Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’ (right-most plant, will need dividing every 2 to 3 years to keep it fresh looking. Part sun to full sun.)
- Fairy Moss in the Pond Azolla (also called mosquito fern, duckweed fern, water fern)
***Aggressive grower! illegal in TX and LA. Keep contained at all times. Do not dump in waterways. Please treat responsibly.***

Laney's Miniature Garden

Laney’s Miniature Garden.

Honorable Mention: Laney from MS has got it going on in this sweet scene for part sun/part shade location. The row of Monteray Cypresses along the backside can be sheared (in late winter) to slow down the grown and to shape it into a full hedge. Otherwise, most of the other plants are slow growing. This combination should be able to stay together for years with minimal maintenance by dividing the ground covers every 3 or 4 years.

Clockwise from top left:

- Monteray Cypress, Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Wilma Goldcrest’ (also called Lemon Cypress makes up the row of lime colored plants along the backside. Indoors or outdoors in more temperate climates, regular water dry out to damp in between.)
- Hokkaido Japanese Elm, Ulmus parvifolia ‘Hokkaido’ (behind the red arbor, part sun to full, cool sun, will drop it’s leaves in the fall, loves pruning, fragile.)
- Dwarf Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nana’ (the perfect grass for the miniature garden. Loves shade, can tolerate sun and indoors too. Tiny lavendar flowers in the summer.)
- Baby Tears or Fairy Tears, Soleirolia soleirolii (the ground cover throughout the garden, an aggressive spreader in some areas but perfect for pots. Great for shade, part shade, indoors in bright indirect light.)

About Laney’s Pond plants: Laney layered in clear resin in the pond to get the koi at different levels. The lily pads with flowers are resin and were stuck into end layer. This took several days to do as each layer of resin had to dry before layering in another.

To see all the pictures of all the entries, visit last week’s blog here. It really is the variety that keeps us interested and growing in this wonderful new-again hobby!

Want more? Join our email list for your FREE monthly Mini Garden Gazette here.

Visit our store for more ideas and eye candy here.

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Results Are In! The Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

02/11/2012 at 6:48 pm · Filed under Because it's fun, Customer Interaction, Fairy Gardening, Indoor Mini Gardens, Miniature Garden Accessories, Miniature Plants, Resources ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Best Container for the Annual Miniature Garden Contest 2012

Best Miniature Garden in a Container: Glenna of Rochester, NY made this little gem with her boyfriend, Wyatt. We (the judges) thought it particularly charming with the stairs going down to the grotto-like pond. (Made with Mini Patio Mix.) The plants are perfectly in scale and the pretty color scheme match the pot too. The whole “look” is softened by the tumbled, smooth-edged stones. Glenna and Wyatt – you are hired!

Results Are In! The Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

What a terrific contest this year! Thank you all for your hard work and your creative ingenuity. We had 20 entries from the US, one from Canada and one from India. The level of miniature gardening made the judging particularly difficult this year. Steve and I had to bring in a couple of gardener friends for some objective opinions because we just could not decide!

If you missed it, here’s last year’s contest and the halloween contest.

And the winners are:

Best Miniature Garden in a Container: Glenna of NY (top)
Best Halloween Miniature Garden: Karen of MA
People’s Choice Award: Mary Jane of NE
Honorable Mentions: Debbie of CA & Laney of MS

It was great to see some out-of-the-box entries. We may have to open up another category for next year for more fun. Laney’s bedpan garden got the most groans and one “Eeeew!” Laney did reassure me that the bedpan was scrubbed before planting. But note that when I followed up with her, the plants were suffering in the metal bedpan so it was taken apart to save the trees. The rusted metal pan was harmful to the plant’s roots so don’t try that at home. ;o)

Here are all the winners followed by all the entrants. After getting this altogether, I think this is my most favorite blog of all time! Check it out:

Best Halloween Miniature Garden: Karen of MA

The Best Halloween Miniature Garden for the Annual Miniature Garden Contest 2012

This Pumpkin Village, made by Karen in MA, won Best Halloween Miniature Garden this year. We deliberated a bit as to whether it was a garden because it was labelled a “Pumpkin Village” but – it’s in a container and has a garden in front of the village. Can’t beat logic! This is so creatively fun with the all the row of houses. Great job, Karen!

People’s Choice Award: Mary Jane of NE

The People's Choice Award of the Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

People’s Choice Award goes to our second-time winner, Mary Jane from Nebraska. Very Pretty!! We just fell in love with the blue and white combo – just charming! We were glad to see “The People” loved it too! Congrats, Mary Jane!

Honorable Mention: Debbie of CA

Honorable Mention, Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

Honorable Mention for the Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012 by Debbie from CA. This was so pretty, we had to make two Honorable Mentions! Everything works together in scale and color – the colors of the plants as well as the color of the accessories and the pot. The pond and swan create a peaceful effect; the patio on the backside adds another dimension. Very sweet, Debbie!

Honorable Mention: Laney of LA

Honorable Mention, Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

This darling little gem won Honorable Mention by Laney from LA. It was in line to win the Best Container before being ousted at the last minute by Glenna. There are koi fish in the pond which Laney layered in with clear resin and finished it up by floating lily flowers on the very top. We loved how Laney built in the patio all around the pond with our Mini Patio Mix Kit. The “wall” of cypresses and trellises in the back work to contain the scene. The sweet alcove made with the red arbor holds a bather sculpture. The shoes and hat on the chair creates the story.

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

We loved this one too! From Laney of LA. It was the meandering path that led over the bridge and through the woods… Perfect eye candy, Laney!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

This one may have opened up another category for next year. A miniature garden with an outhouse planted in a bedpan by Laney from LA. Hilarious, Laney, yet – well done!

And all the talented Entries:

Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

We loved the colors in this entry by Barbara of CA. The red bridge and trellis tied in nicely with the ponds and Asian seat and pots. Great work, Barbara!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

A backyard garden by Lori of WA spreads out to a few different “rooms” in the garden. Love the addition of the miniature glass garden art and the lanterns. Way to go, Lori!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

A spooky little Halloween garden by Lori of WA. It kept us looking for more and more details, lol! Terrific, Lori!

Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

A nicely aged miniature garden entry by Lori of WA. The Green Carpet Juniper is beginning to look like the perfect tree in this cute little scene. The scale is perfect. Nice garden, Lori! (Psssst, the fish needs some water…. Lol! ;o)

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

A garden getaway from Sonya of MI. What a peaceful scene – love how the hose is left out – very realistic! Lol! Wonderful, Sonya!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

A serene scene from Sonya of MI. If the brick wall wasn’t behind it, one may just think it was a full-sized garden! Lovely work, Sonja!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

This lovely garden scene was created by Sonya of MI. We love how the fence completes the back of the garden and contains the scene. The furniture in the front and the pot details keep the interest. Very pretty, Sonya!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

A fairy garden by Michelle of TX and yes, it’s in a hot-pink wheelbarrow. Love how the path meanders from the pond to the arbor to the house to the…. and it’s portable! It’s a sweet scene, Michelle!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

This cute indoor garden comes from Mabelle of CA. We loved how the taller trees created a canopy over the pond. Checkout the miniature potted plants – cute! Delightful, Mabelle!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

All the way from Canada! This sweet vignette by Mary is just charming with the ivy growing up the lighted gazebo. I’m coming over for tea, Mary! ;o)

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

Brought to you by ‘Dawn’not So’patient’ from Facebook. A very cute fairy garden. We suspect she’s not from Facebook, but from someplace down south by the plants she’s used. Very enjoyable, Dawn!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

A charming miniature garden by Pat from MI. The colors of the accessories and basket tie it all together in a nice neat little scene. Adorable, Pat!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

This very fun miniature garden comes from Jeeva from India. The greens and reds really work well together to create a rather exotic scene. Enchanting, Jeeva!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

This pretty garden is from Hollie of KY. The tans, creams and whites contrast nicely with the greens of the plants and pot. A pretty scene, Hollie!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

Our only Christmas entry by Hollie of KY. The wreath and garland are handmade by Hollie. (There weren’t enough entries for this holiday category, unfortunately.) Very creative, Hollie!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

And our only in-ground entry too – by Hollie from KY. See the witch’s legs underneath the ivy on the right?  (There weren’t enough entries for this in-ground category, unfortunately.) Too fun, Hollie!

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

This miniature halloween scene comes from Deb from IN. Love the tiny gargoyles on the fence posts. Very scary, Deb!

Best Miniature Garden in a Container: Glenna of NY, close up view

Two Green Thumbs Annual Miniature Garden Contest, 2012

And lastly, another visit to our Best Miniature Garden in a Container Winner. Time to drink Alice’s elixir, shrink down…. and relax… Thank You, Everyone!

Wow, now you can see why it’s my favorite blog of all time! Thank you everyone for participating!

Show our winners some love and “Like” or share this with your friends, family and neighbors using the sharing buttons below.

Stay tuned to next week’s blog when we breakdown some of the gardens and go into detail on the plants and trees used here.

If you enjoyed this blog, you will enjoy our FREE monthly Mini Garden Gazette delivered straight to your inbox. All Miniature Garden. All the time. Join here, follow the easy prompts and get into our archives after confirming your subscription through our email. Join now.

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