How to Create a Whimsical Garden

Co-authored by Lauren Kurtz

Last Updated: September 6, 2021 References

You can create a fun, whimsical garden by combining dramatic plants, flowers, accessories, decorations, and lighting. Once you choose a theme for your garden, search for colorful, eclectic items that will transform your outdoor space into a beautiful escape. Make your garden unique and special by filling it with fanciful decorative flourishes.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Establishing a Design

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Choose a garden theme to plan your decorating around. Select a theme for your garden that will add whimsy within a specific decorative framework. Dramatically different plants, structures, and colors may clash and create a dissonant feel. Focus on a specific garden idea, such as:
- A tropical garden, combining large, brightly colored plants and flowers with large sculptures and a water source.^{[1]
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- A Japanese garden with blooming cherry blossoms, bamboo accents, and tranquil fountains.^{[2]
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- A woodland garden with large trees, shade-loving plants, fairy decorations, and bold, richly-colored flowers.^{[3]
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2
Decide on the colors you want to include in your garden theme. Color is a great way to add visual interest and an element of whimsy to your garden. Decide what color combination you want and choose flowers, containers, decorations, and furniture within that color scheme. Look at gardening websites or magazines for inspiration.
- For instance, if you choose a blue and yellow color combination, plant flowers like irises and black eyed susans, use blue and yellow planters, and select furniture and garden art in either of these colors.
- If you want a pink and purple theme, try planting flowers like azaleas and bellflowers, hanging pink and purple wind chimes, and displaying pink or purple garden sculptures.
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3
Set up a place to enjoy your garden. When designing your whimsical garden, decide how you will be using it and create a space for yourself. If you imagine yourself sitting amongst the flowers, set up a bench or chairs in the middle of the garden. If you would like to have meals with family and friends in your garden, set up a dining area in a spot with adequate lighting or shade to make it comfortable.^{[4]
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- Visit your local gardening center or home improvement store to look for special garden furniture that is rain-resistant and comfortable.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Adding Accents to the Space

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Reuse everyday objects as containers for your garden. Instead of plain pots and planters, add visual appeal to your garden by using other types of objects to hold plants and flowers. Old bathtubs, metal buckets, milk jugs, or tool boxes are interesting items that can be used in this way. Visit thrift stores and garage sales, or look at online classified ads to find unique pieces.^{[5]
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- Worn out gardening containers such as rusted wheelbarrows or old watering cans can also be used as decorative planters in your garden.
2
Create pathways with different materials for a maze-like feel. To create a pathway in your garden, insert plastic, aluminum, steel, or concrete edging into the ground to frame the outline. Fill the space between the two sides of edging with gravel, mulch, or crushed limestone. You can also insert stepping stones, bricks, or pieces of wood into the soil to create pathways.^{[6]
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- Purchase building materials to make pathways at a local hardware store, or use leftover building materials form other projects.
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Display statues that add a grandiose, whimsical vibe to your garden. Look for interesting statues that match your garden theme at garden centers, flea markets, garage sales, or online. Choose statues that are attractive but also evoke a surreal, magical feeling. Position your statues where they will be seen clearly by people walking through, sitting in, or gazing upon your garden.^{[7]
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- For instance, look for fairy statues to add intrigue to your woodland-themed garden.
4
Add quirky pieces to your garden for visual interest. To create a feeling of whimsy, add artistic pieces to your garden that look slightly out of place. The juxtaposition of these items in your garden will add intrigue to your garden space. Visit thrift stores and garage sales for inspiration, or search online for ideas.^{[8]
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- For instance, salvaged window frames can serve as an interesting background for a flower bed.
- An old bicycle surrounded by brightly colored flowers can add a playful look to your garden.
5
Set up "spilled" flower pot to add a playful vibe. Create the illusion of a knocked-over flower pot by burying a flower pot halfway into the soil in your garden. Plant the flowers of your choice halfway inside the pot and an equal distance outside of its opening. Water the flowers weekly, or more if needed, making sure to care for the flowers inside the pot as well as those outside of it.^{[9]
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- This is an excellent way to make use of a cracked or broken flower pot.
- Loosen the soil with a gardening fork before inserting the pot and planting the flowers.
6
Tie vintage teacups to a tree branch to make a hanging display. Evoke the feeling of a fancy tea party by using colorful old teacups to decorate a tree in your garden. Use twine to tie the cups to a sturdy tree branch at varying lengths. To ensure that the flatware is securely attached, wrap the twine around the tree branch twice for each cup, and tie it with double-knots.^{[10]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Planting Whimsical Flowers

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Plant tall and large blooms to create dramatic garden displays. Combine different large flowers in your garden to make a striking visual statement. The impressive size of the blooms will create a whimsical, larger-than-life look. Shop at local garden centers or online for flowers such as:^{[11]
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- Alliums, flowers with long stems and bright, ball-shaped blooms
- Peonies, flowers with large, fluffy blooms and lush foliage^{[12]
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- Hydrangeas, blooms with immense flower heads^{[13]
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- Oriental lillies, tall flowers with ornate blooms^{[14]
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- Hollyhock, flowers with long spires of blooms^{[15]
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2
Choose a variety of flowers in the same color to match your theme. Planting multiple flowers of the same shade will create a blanket of color sprawling across your garden. Choose flowers of different shapes and sizes to give the combination more impact. Plant groupings like:^{[16]
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- A yellow flower display with sunflowers, daffodils, yarrow flowers, yellow tulips and witch hazel.
- A white flower combination with gardenias, orchids, lilies of the valley, spireas, and anemones.
- A purple flower mix with hyacinths, hydrangeas, clematis, freesias, and pansies.
- A red flower display with roses, long-stemmed ginger, ranunculus, camellias, and gloriosa lilies.
3
Include unusual flowers to add a surreal look to your garden. Uncommon species of flowers will look more whimsical than recognizable blooms like roses or daisies. Look online for unique flowers, since local garden centers are less likely to carry unusual options. Be sure that the flowers will survive and bloom in your climate zone, as many exotic species originate in warm countries. Some examples of odd flowers include:^{[17]
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- Lady’s Slipper Orchid, which has a bloom that looks like a shoe.
- Dragon Flower, which resembles a dragon's head and is said to have magic powers in some cultures.
- Torch Ginger, a bright red flower with waxy petals.
- Sea Holly, which has metallic blue blooms and feathery petals.
- Round-leaved Sundew, which has sticky hairs instead of petals.
- Snake’s Head Fritillary, which has checkered purple petals that resemble snakeskin.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Bringing Life to Your Garden

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Hang wind chimes to add music to your garden. Buy or make wind chimes to hang throughout your whimsical garden. Experiment with different bases, chimes, and suspension lines, which will create different sounds depending on the materials you choose. Try building wind chimes with items like:
- Old silverware
- Seashells
- Glass beads
- Old bed springs
- Fishing lures
2
Use feeding stations to attract birds to your garden. Place bird feeders in garden trees or near your windows to attract different kinds of birds to your yard. To attract hummingbirds, set up special hummingbird feeders, which usually hold "hummingbird food," a special sugar solution that is appealing to them. Place feeders higher than any adjacent surface that cats or other predators can reach so they will be safe while eating.^{[18]
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The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Research lab of Cornell University dedicated to interpreting and conserving the Earth's biological diversity through research and education about birds
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- Bird feeders should be placed either right next to a window or further than 30 feet (9.1 m) from a window to keep them from flying into the glass when taking off after eating.
- Bird baths are a great way to attract birds. Refill the water every few days to keep it clean and free of bugs.
3
Add an ambient glow to your garden with solar lights. Make your garden come alive by adding solar lights to different spots. To light flower beds, add multiple small solar light stakes instead of one large one to disperse the glow. Focus larger lights to the sides of your garden instead of a central point, which may create a glare and take away from the rest of the area.^{[19]
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- Purchase outdoor solar lighting at garden stores, hardware stores, or online.
- Avoid using spotlights in your garden, which can be overwhelming and make your garden look washed out.
4
Include a fish pond or water fountain for a dynamic addition. A water feature can be a focal point as well as a fun addition to your yard. Build a fish pond with a water pump and drain to maintain clean water. You can also add a water fountain to your garden for a whimsical feel.
- To ensure your safety, it is best to enlist the help of an electrical contractor to install the electrical connections required for a water pump.