The "Fairies In The Woods" Story

The Mount Gretna Playhouse which is near the Fairy Garden.

It was an ordinary day.  Quietly standing amongst the tall trees in the Fairy Garden of the Pennsyl- vania Chautau- qua, waiting for the fairies to fly by on their fireflies.  How can you have a bad day when this is all you have to do?  

Sign leading into the garden.

The Fairy Garden at Mt. Gretna in the hills of Lebanon, Pennsyl- vania is located near the Mount Gretna Playhouse where Carol and I travel a few times each summer to hear the music of some of the most famous groups of the 50's and 60's.  In the cool shade, amid the charm of cottages and shops, is this beautiful place called the Fairy Garden.  

A small placesetting is visited by a small bird.

Miniature place-settings, hanging tree ornaments, tiny tea cups and wishing stone treasures make this special place an interesting and intriguing place for children.  A local woman named Carol has taken it upon herself to take care of the garden to make it special for the children.  

Carol organizing the fairy settings.

She notes that for years children have extended their kindness when they visit the fairy garden and leave their hard-earned coins behind in teacups for the fairies.  At times the children will leave a message behind for a fairy.  The money that is collected each year from the fairy garden is donated to the Ronald McDonald House in nearby Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Several hundred dollars are donated annually due to children leaving coins behind.  

Someone has left a small house for the fairies.

I find the garden very interesting and fun to visit and a great place to take photographs.  It is easy to see why children can believe that fairies actually live in the woods and sleep and eat in the garden.  And, it is so refreshing to believe that someone as kind as Carol can make time to visit often to make sure the garden is kept in order and notes and coins are read and put to good use.  Life is simple in this part of the woods and the fairies are doing well.  I only wish I could see one arrive on a firefly sometime.  Then I would really BELIEVE!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Slow down and enjoy the garden.