Fairy Houses

Visiting my grands always opens new experiences. 

Going anywhere with two boys involves negotiations since Mom’s plans and Grandma’s wishes (those anticipated adult-driven activities) are not always amenable to the intense plans and mindsets, the tight razor-sharp focus and tenacious schemes, the dreams of the day’s arrangement and the emotional tenor of what would make the 7-year-old and his brother happy. Of course, the older brother attempts to direct us all, since he walks forward with head erect and a wider, faster step than his brother and mother and grandma.

After two games of bowling (haven't for a few years, and my game showed it), we drove to the library by Columbus’ Park of Roses. My request was to tour the park and, maybe, walk by the river. We never got to the river. Other magic opened to us.

One of the roses spangled with
sun and water.

Roses and the first Fairy House

 The library and community center in Clintonville are backed by property that opens up to sports' fields and an  incredible rose garden. It had been several years since I had the chance to walk into the garden; so after our library visit, Shane led us up the stairs from the parking lot and down the path to the pergola that opened to the formal garden. A fountain was at its center, but other paths and rows of flowers extended in other directions.

The boys scrambled up and down

the decorative folly placed between

the fountain and the heritage garden

at the Whetstone Park of Roses.

It was a day of sun and glory. The roses held crystal remnants from being recently watered. Bees and dragon flies added sparkle to the air, and we passed through the rows of blooms toward the heritage rose garden. There was a folly to climb so one had a clear view of the formal garden's design. The boys raced up and down and up and down the steps until it was time to retrace our steps, but we were not leaving, yet.

"There is a fairy house to find," said Beth as she scrolled through an app on her phone. "The clue is 'north of the names.'"

While the boys were looking through acorns and sticks and other places they would be likely to hide fairies, Beth explained the Columbus project to me. Various artists had created miniature tree houses. She had heard about  it, but she wasn't quite certain what the experience of hunting would entail or if the boys would be interested.  We found the "Fairy Village" suspended above our heads. It was camouflaged by the patches of light that lit and shadowed it. 

There were actually three gourd houses and a twig construction connected by a bridge for very, very small feet. The charming "village" floated in the breeze. The boys were enchanted. The little one was quite disappointed that the fairies were not home. He wanted to see at least one. 

That began our plan for the next day. Beth had found the map and clues for the fairy-house hunt, "Find Me in the Park" sponsored by Columbus Parks and Recreation. The 4 1/2 year-old was excited to tour park playgrounds that circled the city, but the grumpy 7-year-old had to be coaxed and promised surprises along the way. He wasn't certain anything would be totally interesting if it did not include trading Pokemon cards.

The Fairy Village by artist Cynthia J. Bryden