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Fairies in the Garden

Woodlands is thrilled to partner with Skyland Trail and Hillside Atlanta for the 14th annual ‘Fairies in the Garden’ celebration from October 10 – 24, 2026.

Fairies in the Garden features artistic “fairy” houses, hidden throughout the Garden’s eight-acre forest for young nature-lovers to find. Skyland Trail artists will create intricate tiny houses in the woods that could be tucked away below an old tree, under a bridge or right along the trails. Discover tiny fairy dwellings built from bark, twigs, branches, seed heads, leaves and other natural materials, tucked in sheltered nooks along the garden’s paths. Colonies will include root fairies, stump fairies, fortress fairies, moss fairies … and of course trolls under the bridge. Fairy homes include sites easily viewed from ADA-accessible paths and hardscaped driveways. Scroll down on this page for the full calendar list of special activities.

How to join in the fairy fun:

Keep magic thriving by:
1. Staying on the path;
2. Look with your eyes only–please don’t touch the fairy homes!

  • Download the Fairy Map here
  • Stroll the trails at Woodlands Garden during the free, 2-week exhibit and find all the fairy homes on display

About Fairies in the Garden:

  • Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026 to Saturday, October 24, 2026; scroll down for calendar of activities!
  • Time: Exhibit is open during daylight hours
  • Location: 932 Scott Boulevard, Decatur, GA 30030
  • Directions & Parking: Directions to Woodlands can be found here. Parking at Woodlands is limited. Off-site parking options are available at Westchester Elementary on the weekends and on Maediris Dr. across from the Decatur YMCA. Please consider walking, biking, or carpooling.
  • Cost: Free, but donations are welcomed here
  • Costume: Yes, please!

A special thank you to all of the volunteers involved and to our community sponsors for helping to make this free event possible….

Sponsors supporting Fairies in the Garden:

White Oak level

Bigleaf Magnolia level

Flowering Dogwood level 

Contact director@woodlandsgarden.org to learn about future sponsorship opportunities at Woodlands Garden.

Fairies in the Garden

2026 Calendar of Activities
– all events are free and open to the public –

  • Saturday, October 10: Opening Weekend Celebration 
    • Join us for the opening celebration of Fairies in the Garden on World Mental Health Day. Stop by between 1-3pm for fairy crafts, stories, bubbles and more. Visit the garden to relax, reset and celebrate World Mental Health Day! In case of rain, we will move the events to the covered pavilion. The programs are free and do not require registration. 
  • Sunday, October 11: Yoga in the Garden
    • Celebrate World Mental Health Day with a free yoga class from 11am – noon. Join Woodlands Garden and Friendship Yoga on the lawn for a relaxing, mindful flow under the trees. No registration required.
  • Sunday, October 11: Guided Fairy Walk
    • Grab your fairy wings and join a fun stroll through the garden, highlighting fairy homes and other fun garden sights starting at noon-1:00pm. This fairy walk will be led by garden fairies and wizards! Free, no registration required.
  • Tuesday, October 13: Fairy Play Time
    • Drop by from 1-3pm to visit the fairies and make a craft while you’re here! We will have different fairy themed crafts and activities available on the lawn. This program is free and does not require registration.
  • Saturday, October 17: Magical Poetry with Stephen Wing
    • Visit Fairies in the Garden and enjoy the magical art of poetry! Join this event from 10:30am-12:30pm to write a collective poem about the magic of nature. No registration or writing experience required! 
  • Tuesday, October 20: Fairy Scavenger Hunt
    • Visit Fairies in the Garden from 10am- noon and complete a self-guided Fairy Scavenger Hunt! Search high and low for fairies and their magical items. This event is free and does not require registration.
  • Thursday, October 20: Fairy Fun
    • Visit Fairies in the Garden from noon – 2pm and join in on magical Fairy Fun. This event is free and does not require registration.
  • Saturday, October 24: Farewell to Fairies
    • Visit Woodlands Garden and say Farewell to the Fairies! Pack a picnic, put on your fairy wings one last time, and come celebrate with bubbles, crafts, and other fun activities from 10am-12pm.

Educational Speaker: Karen Lindauer

Educational Speaker-Karen Lindauer

  • Name of Presentation: Natural Communities from Middle Georgia to Extreme NE Tennessee
  • Date: Sunday, March 4, 2018
  • Time: 2-3pm
  • Location: Upstairs Overlook Room at Woodlands Garden
  • Cost: Free with registration here
  • Reservation link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080448AAA92BA1FB6-educational1
  • Parking Off Site required find more details here

 

Description of Talk: An amazing diversity of natural habitats occurs from the fall line in central Georgia to the extreme the mountain balds of Tennessee and North Carolina.  These habitats support a wide variety of plant and animal communities, which in turn provide valuable lessons in understanding the habitats in our own “back yards.”

Bio of Speaker: Karen Lindauer is an avid gardener and strong advocate for native plants.  Following early retirement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she and her husband moved from Morningside to Tucker, where they bought a home on nearly 2 acres.  Aside from many beautiful hardwoods and a few azaleas, the property was a blank slate.  Over the next 16 years, many wildflowers, shrubs and small trees were added, many from native plant rescues.  When her husband’s failing health necessitated selling the Tucker home, they were fortunate to find a buyer who appreciated the very special property.  She now gardens and enjoys the benefits of a native forest at Wesley Woods Towers.   She is a member of the Georgia Native Plant Society, the Georgia Botanical Society, and the Atlanta Audubon Society.

Register here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080448aaa92ba1fb6-educational1

Arbor Day Garden Tour

Come celebrate Georgia’s Arbor Day at Woodlands! We will visit some of our best native trees in the Garden and talk about incorporating native trees and shrubs into your home landscape!