subglobal6 link | subglobal6 link | subglobal6
link | subglobal6 link | subglobal6 link | subglobal6
link | subglobal6 link
What was the seed that started it all?
Once upon a time there were three windsurfing women named Barbara, Ruth and Siobhan, fabled for their abilities to ride the waves. One day, while waiting for the wind to blow, they discovered they also had a fondness for weeding n' working in their gardens...
|
One of the three, Barbara, had fantasies about making a garden
from scratch for her newly built house. Not a typical contractor
installed landscape package... No, she was dreaming about an exotic
retreat. Living in Florida by the water she knew she could have
a tropical tapestry of texture, but alas such dreams do not come
cheap. Barbara's lot was nearly devoid of plants but she was determined. Examining options, she thought about her two assets- a large cargo van and a couple of friends who loved to dig. Siobhan signed on first to transform the featureless
tundra of dirt. Plans were laid and plants were picked up, but
even more help was needed. Barbara and Siobhan recognized that
Ruth was quite handy with a shovel and pix axe. Perhaps she might
also like to help. Five full van loads of plants and this tale
was no longer a fantasy or even a fable! It was a FACT! Why Fairies? Garden Fairies are magical--and a bit mysterious-- creatures who bring happy responses from almost all they encounter. So we thought ...magical/happy... that works for us!What do Garden Fairies dig doin? We have a wonderment about nature and love getting together to work on gardening related projects. We get to talk about plants and ourselves- and because we are very creative and passionate, we have a lot of fun doing it. Garden Fairies is a flock (really a co-op) of mainly middle-aged female gardeners.Approaching, or firmly planted in middle-age, we have a zest for living and a shared concern for our community.  Eight years later the Garden
Fairies has grown into something none of original trio ever anticipated.
Mission(s) “Garden Fairies”(GF) main mission is to enhance and make new gardens.We connect with other members of the Garden Fairy group on a regular basis to help improve our gardens and to form new friendships. We often assist new members by jump starting projects that would be daunting to undertake without help. We have other missions as well. One is to help people who love gardening but, due to physical limitations, have given up the hobby. To fill this need, we started Garden Fairies "Gift of a Garden Program". We also do volunteer garden and art related work at parks and schools, forming associations to foster goodwill in our community. One of our associations is with Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs where on February 1, 2003, we helped plant 30,000 sea oats. In the past, we have aided in ridding the park of invasive plants. Currently, we are involved in the design, planning and building of a community grow garden at Fred Howard Park. Dedicated to the conservation of native plants, we helped install large beds of native flora at Brooker Creek Preserve in northern Pinellas. We have also worked with a daycare center Clearwater, FL, for homeless and needy children, helping to foster interest in art, gardening and nature. We were spurred on by our great success contributing to The Something Fishy Lovin' and Livin' Artists Home & Garden Tour, in which they raised $20,000 for a school in Largo, FL. Our own 2004 Artistic Garden Tour raised $8000, being used to endow a new community grow garden in Tarpon Springs. Our fundraising focus during the fall of 2005 is two fold. In September, we raised close to $4000 for Helen Ellis Hospital's "Chairs that Care" benefit. Our October 2005 energies are being directed to a hurricane survivors benefit at our Garden Fairy (and Wizard) members Todd and Kiaralinda's famous "Bowling Ball House" in Safety Harbor. |
Garden Fairies Grow Friendships! The majority of the members are middle aged, fun loving, imaginative lovers of life. Many of the Garden Fairies are creative professional female artists or are artistically inclined. But we have women who are in all kinds of fields. Do you have artistic yearnings that are unfullfilled? Come join us to find your “inner artist” and some new best friends.How many Fairies and Garden Nymphs (Fairie interns) are there? There are more than 200 members from four Florida counties; Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee.We also have “Associate” Fairies - snowbirds (and members who have moved away and attend our events when they're in town). Our internet communications detail our latest adventures, featuring images of the flock to provide inspiration and information for our northern members. How can you get involved? We send out e-mails with dates, times and directions to the Garden Fairy events. “Garden Fairies” has no regular dues for participation in our events. Soon we will have an on-line membership which will help pay for www.wedigdoinit.com and enables us to provide info on many of our projects, plus education about how to be a creative gardener.Any rules? “Garden Fairies” has only one rule and very little hierarchy. Our only rule is that members are asked to work in three other members’ gardens (taking them through Nymph stage to the final full fledged Fairy stage). When one becomes a full fledged Garden Fairy she gets her wings and is put on the list to have her garden worked on, some time in the future.There are only two stages; the Nymph Stage and the Final Fairy Stage. Attacking big projects. Where do I start?For those who are overwhelmed and need additional help, Garden Fairies offers Pro-Services. Many of the Garden Fairies are professional artists who you can hire to help you transform part of your house or garden. Exterior help: • We offer yard/ garden consultations which run two hours and cost $125. For travel time over 30 minutes add $25. This service has been very well received. It is a great way to give yourself a road map for future home upgrades. • For those people who need more help we offer master plans and installation services. Interior help • We also offer interior house consultations; featuring color consultations and furniture placement. What are the benefits of being a Garden Fairy?
|
Garden
Fairies WIN First Place in the 2004 Dunedin 