Thank you so much to the NSG program for giving support to our neighbourhood fairy and gnome garden. We established a fairy and gnome boulevard garden in 2021 for the neighbourhood kids and passersby on our block on 7th avenue in Fairview Slopes.
The garden has evolved over the years with it now having a focus on BC native plants. We also added a children’s little library with the support of the NSG program three years ago.
With the support of the NSG program, this year we added a bird bath and got some permanent signs made as well as added a mini fire hydrant to “Mulch Mountain”, an area set aside for a dog’s toilet to avoid harm to the plants.
The garden has brought a great deal of joy to kids and people passing by. Unfortunately, it has also attracted unwanted attention from some individuals who have cause damage by breaking items they’ve tried to take.
On a sunny Sunday on May 25th, 6 of us from the neighbourhood gathered to repair and replace some broken and removed items, plant 20 new native plants, add the new signs, mini fire hydrant and birdbath. Several of the kids painted and decorated new fairy doors and houses to add to the garden. We also added some games that people could participate in including, what is your fairy name? a fairy and gnome scavenger hunt (we had this since inception, but we updated it due to thefts and missing items), a plant identifier scavenger hunt and information on the benefits of native plants. With these items and plants, we hope to continue to bring a smile to people’s faces, feel a connection to nature and the neighbourhood, and enjoy some fun time together.
It has been wonderful to see the compacted boulevard dirt being transformed into healthy soil due to the work of the insects, earth worms and other inhabitants as they break down the leaf and bark mulch. As soil health has improved, so has the plant material above the ground. The garden has been an opportunity for us to feel a personal connection to community space, see how nature regenerates close hand and how we, as individuals and as a community of different ages, can participate in gardening in a regenerative, educational and fun way.
