secret garden

We've been planning, gathering ideas, and secretly working on this garden for almost a year. Clara LOVES gardens and gardening. I thought it would be delightful to transform a corner of our yard into her own little garden. As I looked for ideas, I thought it would be adorable to incorporate a miniature garden into her child-size garden. It has been so much fun working on these things. Elijah put in tons of time building the arbor, cutting wood for the path, digging, moving rocks, building benches. Kuddos to an amazing hubby and daddy to help bring the vision to life. Clara has already rearranged flower pots and has lots of ideas of her own. It will be a joy to help her make the space her own.

Clara Joelle, you have grown and matured so much this past year! You are becoming a little lady with lots of spunk, a tender heart, and an eye for beauty. We love you and cherish the gift that you are. Happy 5th Birthday!

Her miniature  "Tangled" garden..housed in a birdcage

do you see the yellow braid in the back? That would be Rapunzel's hair...let out of her tower. Clara is loving Tangled and all things Rapunzel. It was a fun challenge to include it in her tiny garden. Thank you, dollar store, for selling little lighthouses!!!

Always nice to have an orthodontist for a dad. He contributed wire bending tools so I could fashion a candelabra and a little arbor. Oh, and don't you think every tree should have a candelabra in it? :-)

"Wrapped" and ready. We waited until she was tucked in bed and then scrambled to get everything planted and in place before the darkness took over on her birthday eve. I was pleased to see that it had actually turned out ok when we saw it in the light of morning! ;-)

Here's the excited Birthday girl.

There are sweet truths tucked into her garden...like this one. Praying this will be a sweet place for her to enjoy and grow in her love for a creative and garden-loving God.

Happy Birthday, Clara!