Gardens are fun to design, especially when everything is in miniature! The Mini Zen Garden basically serves as a place to switch off mentally and just enjoy raking in the sand. This particular plant-free Japanese garden exudes a calming minimalism. With fairy gardens, on the other hand, you create a miniature world for very small residents such as fairies and elves. It is a wonderful and romantic dream world with lots of flowers and is more like a forest landscape. “Mermaid gardens” is the name of the new trend that has been taking over Instagram for several months. The mini garden for mermaids should look like a small holiday paradise with a beach and sea. What else is typical of these mini gardens and how you can design this beach landscape yourself in the smallest of spaces is explained below.
Basically there are no rules when it comes to design. Each creation looks different and has a special charm. Be inspired by the examples compiled here! With some colored sand, pebbles, shells, and a few mermaid figurines, you can create your own waterfront promenade right in your living room!
Large tubs and pots as well as glass are suitable as containers for the mini garden.For fillingSea glass, sand, gravel, but also aquarium sand are used. Shells and corals round off the overall picture nicely. Small plants such as succulents, tillandsias and cacti are ideal for planting. Ornamental grasses also feel at home here. But make sure that all types of moss like to spread in the shaded area.
Sea glass piecesplacethe sea
If the garden is provided with real plants, it is important that the container to be planted has a water drainage hole. If you have decided on a larger container, you can first line it with Styrofoam. This saves a lot of potting soil. The sand is then spread thinly on the floor. To represent the sea, arrange glass beads or on one sideSea glass piecesso dense that they cover every visible area of sand.
If you want to incorporate a real water element into the design, check out this example! A plastic tray is placed on one side of the tin tub. Since the material is transparent, you could also see the potting soil underneath.
Instead, you can simply use a blue bowl or line the bottom of the transparent bowl with blue pebbles. In any case, that's a great idea.
Glass ballsfor hanging
If your mini garden is set up in a fish bowl or hanging glass ball, it is advisable to use rootless air plants and sand. Tillandsias absorb the water they need directly from the air to survive. However, if the humidity is low, you can spray them with lukewarm water several times a week.
dieMermaid charactersare the focus
Once the small landscape including plants, beach and sea has been set up, the most important elements are still missing: the icing on the cake is the mermaid figures. They are not always so easy to find. Children's toy boxes are a treasure trove, especially if your daughter is a fan of Ariel. Treasure chests, palm trees, fish, starfish and shells – they make the miniature world seem really alive.
With the children you can make beautiful decorations with the theme “Underwater World”.
Sandburg:Cut out a piece of sandpaper measuring 10 x 15 cm. Wrap the paper into a roll and glue the end. Cut out a circle approximately 12 cm in size. Then place a point in the middle of the circle and draw a line from there to the edge. Cut there. Shape the circle into a cone and glue it to the cut surfaces. Fix the cone on the roll and decorate it with tiny sea snail shells.
Crab:Paint shell pasta with red acrylic paint. Cut a red pipe cleaner into four equal parts. Twist three pieces together in the middle and stick them to the bottom of the shell noodle. Cut the fourth piece into two, bend it slightly and fix it at the front like scissors. Glue on the googly eyes and you're done!
Tortoise:Draw the outline of a turtle on a sheet of green paper and cut it out. Stick a green PET bottle cap on it. Glue a toothpick to the back.
When arranging the decorations, create different heights. Place tall plants at the back; they provide structure. The mermaid figure comes in the middle. The smaller details should be arranged at the front.
There are many ways to showcase the mermaid figure. For example, it looks particularly beautiful when it sits on a rock or in a large shell. Just like a princess on her throne. Another idea would be to place a decorative shell in the middle of the mini garden. It could serve as a refuge for the mermaid when pirates come nearby.
Large river stones stacked on top of each other also form a beautiful backdrop for the mermaid figure, which look like the entrance to the mermaids' grotto. Could it lead to a treasure of immeasurable value?
This example shows how you can create 3 levels of different heights from broken terracotta pots. If you don't have any old pots available, you can also get new ones. The mermaids' treasure is hidden at the top. Use your imagination to make up the whole story.
An absolute highlight would definitely be a waterfall. Depending on the size and structure of your mini garden, implementing it is not that difficult. You can simply glue several blue glass beads to create a beautiful flowing effect.
If you are already enthusiastic about the new trend, then collect a lot of shells and sand with your children on your next walk on the beach! One thing is certain: the mini garden for mermaids will bring a lovely holiday flair into your own four walls. Have fun imitating!
