Children's Gardens

♫Fairy Dance♫

I must have fallen in love with gardens when I was a child in the 1950's because of Papaw & Mamaw's farm in Mississippi. Papaw, a widower, built the house for my grandmother soon after they were married in 1917.  This blurry photo was taken of the flowers that lined the walk up to Mamaw's front porch in 1974.  Mamaw was 77 by then and would live another 20 years in that house and another 6 in a nursing home.  We moved so often that my parents had no interest in gardening.  Mamaw's flowers and her farm were very special to me. . . .

We kids loved playing "house"around these big oak trees. You can just make out the huge roots that grew out of the ground of the one next to this one.  These made little compartments that we designated as the "rooms" of our house. . . .and the bushes in the back ground, cut into the shape of a chair and couch, further captured our imaginations. . . .

So it's no wonder I love visiting Children's Gardens whenever I can. . . .

WINTERTHUR -  ENCHANTED WOODS

Winterthur's website has a wonderful interactive site (2022 note:  these links are no longer there) about the Enchanted Woods.  The Tale of  Enchanted Woods sets the stage for the enchantment.  Be sure to read the Letter From the Enchanted Woods Faeries and click on the link below this map.  Be prepared for surprises. . . .

Interactive Map

Now you are ready to enter the Enchanted Woods.  It was an overcast day.  Leaves were being stirred about by the wind.  There were only a few other children there (besides me!). . . .

Welcome to the Enchanted Woods. . . .

Harvey welcomes you, too. . . .

Be careful as you cross for Scott the Troll lives under the bridge, or do like me and follow the path around the bridge. . . .

Cobweb, the storyteller fairy, hangs out here. . . .

I think this is where the trolls must warm themselves at night.  I did not linger to look for evidence. . . .

What's this peaking through the leafy bushes and trees. . . .

A huge bird's nest!  And the Faerie Cottage.  I am told when "fairy" is spelled the old French way, "faerie," it includes all woodland spirits--fairies, pixies, elves, brownies, sprites, sylphs, & gnomes. . . .

Puddle, the Water Fairy, made the Frog Hollow bridge. . . .

Moss, the gardener fairy, planted the Gathering Green where you can dance around the May Pole to welcome Spring. . . .

Ah, you must pass through the chiming gate to reach the Tuilip Tree House. . . .

                     

Blossom, the Flower Fairy, has made a special labyrinth. . . .

Inscribed with a walking song from the Navajo tribe. . . .

In beauty may I walk

With beauty before me

With beauty behind me

With beauty above me

With beauty around me

May I walk

. . . .and special stones carved with magic flowers. . . .

It is said one must absolutely, definitely not enter a fairy ring. . . .

. . . .for if you do this is what happens. . . . !

As we made our way out of the Enchanted Woods we passed some petrified stumps. . . .or were they. . . .?

LONGWOOD GARDENS - CHILDREN'S GARDEN
Pierre du Pont loved having children play in his gardens at Longwood.  It was only fitting that an Indoor Children's Garden was added to the Conservatory in 1987.   This is how it looked in the summer of 1991 when I took my children to see it.  The theme that year was Peter Rabbit and Friends.  That's my little Benjamin bunny when he was 3. . . .

 In 2007 they tripled the size and added a second story and fountains. . . .

Now, other people's children are playing in the garden. . . .

The ironwork was beautiful. . . .

Longwood Gardens has several outdoor areas for children such as the Children's Corner, Bird House & Railway Garden, and Lookout Loft.

MY ENCHANTED WOODS

As you will remember the Gnomes in my Woods keep guard over the Enchanted Woods.  They stay hidden in the tree trunks most of the time, but this one came out to give me a wave. . . .

To enter through the South Entrance you must now place an acorn from the bowl into the Faerie's apron. . . .

Gabriel has just placed his acorn in the apron. . . .

He then heads for the path that leads to the Faerie House. . . .

 He seems to know exactly where to find it for he's leading the way. . . .

 We pass by the back door hidden in the bushes. . . .

Even though the leaves have fallen all around from the trees, the Faerie Flowers are all still in bloom.  Magical. . . . !

We quietly leave the Faerie House and head toward the North Entrance, passing by the mushroom seat. . . .

All those who enter through this way must strike the Faerie bell with that bone. . . . !

This was one of my favorite songs when I was a little girl. . . .If you go down into the woods today be sure of a big surprise, . . you better go in disquise. . . .