The Fairy keeps the garden quite ‘contrary’

Think small when it comes to planting a fairy garden according to Joella Socko who spoke to the Muncy Garden Club in July. "Fairies like to have natural rustic things like twigs and stones and places to hide," she said as shown above in her demonstration fairy garden.
MUNCY – Once again the Muncy Garden Club hosted a unique and entertaining program for all garden lovers. At July’s meeting, it was all about ‘Fairy Gardens’. “Did you know the fairies come out at night, and that is why you notice good things growing in your garden,” exclaimed Joella Socko who has been a member of the Rory Creek Garden Club in Catawissa since 1977.
Despite the fact that our gardens grow because of good care, ancient myths tell us that these “little angels” come out and take care of all the plants and flowers. “I learned this and many things about gardening from my grandfather,” said Sacko.
“Study the fairies. They tell something different to different gardens.” Their legendary magical nature and beliefs are associated with similar fairy creatures such as leprechauns, gnomes, gremlins, elves, ogres, and some not so popular. According to Sacko fairies rest during the day and work at night as they “distrust humans” a belief that goes back to medieval times. They wish to remain unseen to the human eye.
“In the garden”, Sacko added, “they give us a little help, but rarely do we communicate with them.” Theory has it that these magical creatures come from the descendants off the coast of Ireland, for God sent them to assist Mother Nature. Another legend comes from the story of Peter Pan and how the birth of the first baby was brought by these mythical pixies. “They appear as you want them to appear, different sizes, shapes and personalities. They can be funny, annoying, but not mean. They will get nasty, though, if you let your primrose die,” Socko added.
Do you have fairies living around you she asked the club members. For they live at the base of an oak tree. Hawthorne trees are sacred to the fairies. Their roots and branches give them strength. But beware, cat lovers, fairies don’t like cats, and cats don’t like fairies.
To attract fairies, we must be in a good mood because bad moods bring “crabby” fairies according to Socko. “Invite them into your garden,” she explained. “Give them food like an elderberry bush or strawberries.” They like things rustic and natural and gardens to be a natural habitat. “Stones and twigs suit them well.”
Wooden bird houses, gazing balls, shiny little rocks give them neat places to hide. As for plants, they like mint, sage, miniature rose bushes, thyme, rosemary, lavender, foxglove, violas, lambs ear, forget-me-nots, violets, Queen Anne’s lace, clover, snapdragons, lilly of the valley, Irish moss, and best of all, primroses often known as the ‘fairy flower’ because it makes them invisible.
Fairies need a water source to drink and play in, flat rocks for sunning, and grassy flat areas to lie on. “They love the fragrance of thyme, it is soft for them to rest and hide their babies for safekeeping.” Strawberries are a favorite food, and blue bells are one of the most potent fairy flowers as they are used for midnight ceremonies.
Young or old, a fairy garden will always bring a smile, and creating a whimsical enchanting fairy garden is the best reward of all for an avid gardener. It just takes a little imagination to transform your yard into a special place for fairies to frolic.
The Muncy Garden Club meets at the parish hall of the St. James Episcopal Church, 215 S. Main St., Muncy at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month. Their next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 18. The program will be on medical herbs from ancient times with speaker Sue Morris.