The Fairies Poem and Fairy Garden Photos

 I love garden tours. Today I went on the 23rd Annual Backyard Habitat Tour, sponsored by the Wachiska Audubon Society of Southeast Nebraska. My favorite garden was a delightful fairy garden created by Cathy and John McQuinn.  The whimsical statues and displays nestled in amongst the beautiful flowers reminded me of a favorite childhood poem called "The Fairies." I discovered it in our family's copy of "Childcraft." I used to read the poem in a little sing-songy voice:  "There are FAIRIES at the BOTTOM of our GARDEN. It's NOT so very VERY far aWAY . . . "

Here is the poem, accompanied by photos I took today in the garden:

The Fairies

By Rose Fyleman

There are fairies at the bottom of our garden!

   It’s not so very, very far away;

You pass the gardener’s shed and you just

keep straight ahead—

  I do so hope they’ve really come to stay.

There’s a little wood, with moss in it and beetles,

  And a little stream that quietly runs through;

You wouldn’t think they’d dare to come

         merry-making there—

                Well, they do.

There are fairies at the bottom of our garden!

  They often have a dance on summer nights;

The butterflies and bees make a lovely little breeze,

  And the rabbits stand about and hold the lights.

Did you know that they could sit upon the moonbeams

  And pick a little star to make a fan,

And dance away up there in the middle of the air?

                Well, they can.

There are fairies at the bottom of our garden!

  You cannot think how beautiful they are;

They all stand up and sing when the Fairy Queen and King

  Come gently floating down upon their car.

The King is very proud and very handsome;

  The Queen—now can you guess who that could be

(She’s a little girl all day, but at night she steals away)?

                Well—it’s ME!