Flower Faeries are intriguing to have in the garden. A great way to invite them to move into your own herb garden is to plant an enticing Faerie Chair . Faerie scouts will be able to see this high rise Faerie Garden from a great distance! They will be so delighted that perhaps a whole clan will make their home near this awesome chair garden. You do however, have to make sure that your friends and relatives never try to sit on the chair. Who knows what would happen!!

Begin by finding an old wooden chair. Garage sales are a good source or in my case I remembered some chairs up in the top of the barn. Remove the seat part of the chair. And gather the rest of the needed material.

• Chicken wire
• Staple gun
• Wire cutters
• Sphagnum moss
• Potting soil
• Green sheet moss
• Curly branches
• Special herb plants for the Faeries

Lady's Mantle

So that the Faeries can shower with the dew drops. ( The dew drops from this perennial keeps away wrinkles . This is very important for someone as old as the Faeries.)

Lavender

The clan likes to have many parties and lavender infused wine is one of their favourites. (Promotes pure knowledge!) Lavender plants are where the Faeries drape their clothes to dry and the lavender scent perfumes the air so there is no stress.

Woolly Lamb's Ear

This is a perennial pet for the Faeries normal animals are just tooooo big!

Thyme

Thyme is a must! The Faeries build their homes under the mounds of thyme.

Rosemary

Rosemary is also good. Good for the memory! A trailing variety looks great trailing down over the side of the chair.

Boxwood

Boxwood can be clipped into a topiary tree and decorated for a special Faerie events, perhaps a wedding. (The small leaf boxwood would be the best!)

Sweet Woodruff

The whirly white blossoms of the sweet woodruff reflect the moon light for late night Faerie dancing.

It is best to find a work area outside to plant the chair. With any luck the Faeries will spot what you are doing and the word will be out already! Cut 2 squares of chicken wire approximately 12" wider than the opening of the chair seat. Staple the chicken wire to the sides and form the excess wire into a pouch. You might want to double the staples to insure the pouch is secure. (In the middle of filming The Gardener's Journal show all my plants started to give way! If this happens never give up . Start over again!) Line the bottom of the chicken wire pouch with wet sphagnum moss until all the mesh part is covered by approximately an 2". Fill in the pouch with a good potting soil amended with compost or well rotted manure, bring the soil up to the level of the top of the seat.
Take the herb plants out of their pots and start planting them in the soil. Remember to keep taller growing plants at the back and the shorter plants such as thyme to the front. Water well and cover the soil around the plants with the green sheet moss. The Faeries will like to hold picnics on the moss and it will help the herbs from becoming too hot on all those sunny days in July! The curly branches should be twisted down a leg of the chair, this will allow the Flower Faerie a way of climbing up to their Faerie Garden. If you have extra branches they can be inserted into the soil at the back in case the Faeries want to build a swing.
I have two Faerie Chairs in the courtyard and they attract a lot of attention. To encourage interest I have placed little mini tea sets on the moss and have given the Faeries their own sign that says "Faerie Garden" that is tied onto the chair rail with bright raffia. The Faeries like all kinds of earthly delights. Add acorns, seashells and bits of gold ribbon but most of all add your imagination and have lots of "Faerie Fun" The Faerie Chair should be watered once a day and in cold temperatures in the winter, given some protection.

Books to read :

Are there Faeries at the bottom of Your Garden? by Betsy Williams

Beyond Betwixt Between by Carla J. Nelson