A vase is a container used to hold cut flowers. Traditionally, they’re made from glass, ceramics, or non-porous materials; however, today’s vase is a shell.
It’s a tiny shell. A garden snail succumbed to its fate, leaving a bleached and hollow vacancy behind. I used a toothpick to remove the dirt, knowing the shell might be useful.
Scale is everything when you’re creating a vase. You want something tall in the back and a bit of green for contrast, allowing the flowers to be the main attraction. Following those guidelines, I’ve used asparagus fern for greenery and height, showcasing the lovely blue Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ front and center.
Satisfied with my tiny vase, I snapped a few photos, then let “Bubba” have a sniff so you could see the true scale of the snail. Snail shell, that is.
The vase provides a focal point for one of my fairy gardens. I rearranged the lawn furniture, repaired (and then broke) the tiny door, added small pebbles, and returned my mostly rust-free garden gate.
This year’s garden features a tiny Alyssum hedge and a lawn of small greens, the name of which currently escapes me.
There you have it. The importance of a tiny vase on Monday to celebrate the opening of the fairy garden. The fairy garden sits beside the fountain’s right, surrounded by Campanula, commonly known as bellflowers. It’s a welcome respite for fairies and garden visitors alike.
Thanks to the Cathy’s of Rambling in The Garden and Words and Herbs for bringing us together.
Gardening Nirvana 
How utterly magical! Fairies are clearly at work here!
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I think so, too. 🧚♂️
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Wonderful, Alys. I have sent this link to Flo who is making her own fairy garden
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Thank you, Derrick. I’m so pleased.
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My grand daughter made a fairy garden when she was little, this has reminded me to ask her if she still tends this. Yours is quaint and I can just imagine a fairy would find a snail shell quite useful.
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Thank you, Noelle. Creating miniature gardens is a fun and relaxing hobby.
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I once saw photos of “elf” homes in Iceland. Tiny little homes ensconced in the hills. I thought of that when you talked about fairy gardens and thought that the elves would have appreciated that extension to their homes… with the snail-flower-vase 🙂
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Gorgeous Alys. I usually leave the ‘big’ gardening to Mr. Tialys but this looks more like the scale I’d enjoy. I’ll have to check for signs of fairies first to make sure it will be appreciated.
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Thank you!
Lynn, if you build it they will come. 🙂 You won’t regret it. It’s relaxing in so many ways.
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Oh, how I love this! I can picture the fairies coming to dance late at night when humans are asleep.
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Thank you, Laurie. I like to imagine them dancing lightly on the Alyssum petals, releasing that wonderful honey-scent as they go. 🙂
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Some early morning, when you go out, if the honey-scent is particularly strong, then you will know there was a fairy gathering the night before.
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Wow Alys; what a stunning little garden scape! I’ve never done a fairy garden but I’m so inspired to try one after seeing this!
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Thank you, Sara. I think you will love it. Once things settle down you can let your inner child have a go. Best of luck with the moves.
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This is absolutely delightful Alys! I really love the Fern as the backdrop to the blue Brunnera. How pretty. And your fairy garden is pure magic! 😃 I wonder if any fairies have found it yet…
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Hi Cathy, I’m so glad you enjoyed my tiny vase. I might of heard a fairy whispering in the wind this morning. They are always discreet. 🙂
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Absolutely endearing! Well done, Alys!
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Thank you, Eliza. Do you ever dabble in fairy gardening? I get into the zone whenever I create one. The magic happens when I relax and explore.
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I’m often charmed by mossy stumps and nooks that I fancy would make a good fairy lodge, but I’ve never created something on my own.
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Eliza, todays the day. Start dreaming and planning and playing with those mossy logs. I guarantee you will not regret it. ❤️🧚♂️
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🙂
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It is enchanting, Alys, and brought a quiet smile to my face. Thank you.
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Thank you, Ann. Xo
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That really surprised me! Without seeing the scale you would never realize it was so tiny. Mouse brought it into perfect perspective. I’ve been wanting to put a fairy garden together since I settled in but things keep moving in to the top of the list. I put the little things back in the drawer for the moment but we are getting nothing but 70’s next week. I’m afraid spring, sprang. You always make such delightful garden areas for people and fairies.
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Lovely. What a delightful addition to your garden. The snail shell is a perfect vase.
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Oh this is absolutely delightful, and your creativity in considering using a snailshell in the first place is admirable. The overall effect works so well, and it without a reference point it would be hard to work out the size – when you first mentioned snail shell I was thinking it must be one of those giant snails they used to bring into schools along with other creatures, like a mini zoo – on reflection, I should have picked up the clue in the title! Not surprisingly, I love your fairy garden!
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Thank you so much, Cathy. I love creating like this. We all need a bit of whimsy in our lives.
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Oh my goodness that is so sweet and creative! I love your fairy garden – it would be so fun to have something like that to add sweet whimsy to my garden!
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I enjoy creating in miniature.
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