Outdoor

Whether you’re a serious gardener or you simply appreciate that there are green weeds to cover the dirt when you look out your window, the thought of having always-ideal conditions for a perfect garden – in every season – must seem appealing. In real life? Well, we can dream. In miniature? You’ve come to the right place.

In real life, you wouldn’t have daffodils blooming while grapevines are heavy with fruit, but you can in miniature. Fir trees and geraniums planted together? Why not? We don’t have to worry about the limitations of weather and watering – and we don’t have to wait for “planting season” – or for seeds to sprout! Instant gratification is what it’s all about.

So, your little outdoor space can be a fantasy of color, blossoms and beauty, just because you like it that way. Or, it could imitate reality and help “ground” your house or scene in a specific place and time. Someplace in the tropics? Plenty of ferns and palm trees, but probably no evergreens or conifers. A setting for Santa’s workshop? Nix the orchids, but maybe a bit of moss peeking through the snow for the reindeer.

Another good thing about mini gardening is that many options can cross the usual boundaries of scale. A small tree in 1/12 scale is large in 1/24 scale, but still appropriate. Potted greenery and flowers that are right for a 1/24 scale porch or patio will look fine on a 1/12 scale windowsill.

And, if you are really serious about small-space gardens, your art can imitate life by following the seasons. Plan and “plant” on a changeable base, perhaps made of foam core, and celebrate the seasons as the calendar turns. Or have Christmas in July! Perhaps your mini family’s home was up north but they got a job transfer to Southern California. Just change the garden to suit the locale as you learn – or teach a youngster – about what’s different in another part of the world.