A fairy garden fit for a boy

Sam and I were invited to attend a class at Dragonfly Shops & Gardens in Orange over the weekend, and happily obliged. To be honest, I wasn’t really paying attention to what we’d be doing in the class – just that it would get me out of bed on a Saturday morning and be a fun outing for the kid.

So we head over to the Orange Circle, which is only about 15 minutes from my house, and arrive at this adorable little house-turned-shop that is overflowing with container gardens, wall hangings, jewelry and countless items for the home.

I’m basically like a kid in a candy store here. I can barely contain myself. It’s exactly the sort of decor items I want my home and patios to be filled with, but never seem to have enough money to add to my collection. Today is no exception in the money department, but that doesn’t stop my eyes from twinkling at the site of hundreds of little doodads I want, want, want, want. There are many types of styles here, too – beachy, country, simple, elegant, modern, old-fashioned, cutesy, sophisticated. I quickly decide I’ll be doing all of my gift-shopping for every woman in my life at this store.

Oh, but I digress. The class. That is what we’ve come here for.

The class had many steps, but were fast enough to satisfy the short attention spans of the children. And their mamas.

Each kid painted a pot. Sam enjoyed this step tremendously, successfully getting paint on the pot as well as his shirt, cheeks and hands. My little left-hander.

Next, they glued little sparklies to a sweet little birdhouse.

Then, they filled the pot with dirt.

And don’t forget the fairy dust!

Last, they planted the flowers and grass, adding great little pieces like an arbor, rocks, and even a teeny tiny frog and a teenier, tinier ladybug. The birdhouse was glued to a stick and added to the pot. Then, naturally, more fairy dust. And voila!

Admittedly, the activity was more fun for the girls; I’d say anywhere from 3- to 8-year-olds would love this class. But where there is dirt, there will be happy boys, right?

My son, ever the toddler boy, was much more engrossed in playing with the rocks that covered the front area of the shop.

But hey, he has a completed pot, and he’s asked every day to visit it outside, poking and prodding at the rocks and leaves. I’d say it was quite the success.

And also? My next paycheck is practically spoken for.

Like Dragonfly Shops & Gardens on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter @DragonflyShops. And if you stop by, let them know I sent you, and they’ll give you a 20% discount!

Related posts:

1. Day 18: Start a garden