We spend many enjoyable hours when our children are young reading fairy tales and bedtime stories, planting seeds of imagination and unlimited possibilities for the future. Imagine the fun of bringing those stories to life in the garden. Creating a themed garden based on fairy tale characters and childhood stories lets us do just that.
Here are a few ideas to start with, but don’t be limited by these. Your kids have favorite characters and stories to draw from, so let their imaginations and yours run wild. There are several books available with ideas for children’s gardens. There are also several ethnic garden themes that can inspire you. Check the web site at Michigan 4-H Childrens Gardens for some beautiful children’s themes, as well as historic and ethnic garden ideas.
| Theme | Plants | Decorations |
| Cinderella’s Garden | Pumpkins Lady’s Slippers | Plastic mice or horses Fairy (godmother) |
| Native American Garden | Morning Glories Corn Beans Squash (3 sisters) | Bamboo Teepee (plant Morning Glories around poles) Cornhusk dolls Dream catchers Clay Pot Totem Pole (stack and paint clay pots) |
| Pizza Garden | Tomatoes Peppers Oregano Onions Basil Marigolds | Make circle garden Paint round stepping stones to look like pepperoni Small flag of Italy “Sprinkle” marigolds throughout for the “cheese” |
| Jack and the Beanstalk Garden | Various Beans | Scarecrow made to look like Jack Stake vining beans on tall poles Plastic or Ceramic Goose Plastic egg painted gold |
| Fairy Garden | Any flowers Purple Coneflowers (fairy umbrellas) | Mushroom figurines in circle (fairy ring) Fairy figurines (under coneflowers) Small fairy bath or tray of water |
| Rainbow Garden | Various color Flowers | Design the garden in the shape of a rainbow Use a small black Halloween cauldron and fill with play money gold coins |
| Wizard of Oz Garden | Red Poppies Red Lady’s Slippers | Scarecrow Paint bricks yellow to make a path Tin Watering Can (paint a face on it with markers to look like tin woodman) |
| Sun & Moon Garden | Moonflowers Sunflowers Morning Glories Evening Primrose | Sun and Moon Plaques Sundial |
| Peter Rabbit Garden | Beets Radish Sage Strawberries Rosemary Lemon Balm | This book is one of the first to introduce most kids to the garden – create a place to sit and read. Rabbits and other garden creatures |
Don’t forget to add bird baths, wind chimes, flags and other decorations that are in keeping with the theme of your child’s garden. Create a place to throw a blanket for a picnic, reading a treasured story, and introducing new characters and garden ideas for next season.
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