Herb Fairy Garden

Planting an herb garden is a wonderful, sensory activity to do with your child. You can make your fairy garden with flowers and herbs, but for this activity we will focus on herbs. Along with all the different scents and textures, herbs also offer a variety of tastes that can be use in recipes. A fairy garden can be for the outdoors or indoors, in a fancy flowerpot or a simple box. The ideas are endless!

Instructions

• Decide on which herbs you want to include and whether it will be an indoor or outdoor garden.

• Talk with your child about a theme…will it be a magical garden with a little house and swing set, or will you decide on a theme based on their favourite toys or animals?

Some theme ideas

• Farm

• Dinosaurs

• Trolls and Gnomes

• Camping

• Playground

• Log Cabin

Choose your container - you can put a fairy garden in just about any kind of container, you don’t need to limit yourself to the usual terracotta flowerpot. There are so many different options so consider using one that is brightly coloured or has added texture.

Choose your herbs – consider whether your garden will be indoors or outdoors. Involve your child when you choose your herbs. (touch, look and smell).

When you are ready to plant, place the container at a level that your child can interact, (raised if in stroller or wheelchair) and ideally where they can independently access it.

Add moss, pebbles and twinkling lights are great to have when creating a magical fairy garden.

Herbs that grow well inside

These grow quickly and are the easiest to grow indoors.

• Chives

• Lemon Balm

• Mint

• Parsley (Flat Italian Parsley or Curled Parsley)

• Tarragon

• Coriander

Herbs for outdoors

These herbs like to live outdoors where the sun shines brightly and the soil keeps their roots dry. They are a bit harder to grow indoors as they are slow-growing and slow to adapt to limited light conditions.

• Basil

• Cilantro

• Camomile

• Oregano

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Thyme