14 Enchanting Fairytale Gardens
Step into the magical worlds of Rapunzel, Cinderella and Snow White with these fairytale-inspired gardens
Gardens and forests have always been the playgrounds of the various creatures and characters that inhabit fairytales and myths. Lush creeping ivy, fragrant and colourful flowers, wildly growing shrubs and hidden passageways all enhance a garden’s mystical qualities.
Take a moment to step away from the everyday and wander these beautiful and dreamy landscapes, which evoke the classic stories and settings of storytellers such as the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and even Shakespeare.
Take a moment to step away from the everyday and wander these beautiful and dreamy landscapes, which evoke the classic stories and settings of storytellers such as the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen and even Shakespeare.
Cinderella
The Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault all captured the story of the destitute beauty who foils her evil stepsisters with the help of a fairy godmother and goes on to marry a prince. This globe seating pod set amid a lush garden evokes the pumpkin-turned-carriage in which Cinderella rides to the prince’s ball.
The Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault all captured the story of the destitute beauty who foils her evil stepsisters with the help of a fairy godmother and goes on to marry a prince. This globe seating pod set amid a lush garden evokes the pumpkin-turned-carriage in which Cinderella rides to the prince’s ball.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Through the locked doors and past the passageway of trees, the princesses escape from their kingdom each evening to dance the night away. One day, though, a soldier follows them and uncovers their secret by bringing back branches from the massive trees the princesses pass when entering the dancing world. Although the soldier spoils their fun, the draw of secret passageways and entrances remains as thrilling as ever.
Through the locked doors and past the passageway of trees, the princesses escape from their kingdom each evening to dance the night away. One day, though, a soldier follows them and uncovers their secret by bringing back branches from the massive trees the princesses pass when entering the dancing world. Although the soldier spoils their fun, the draw of secret passageways and entrances remains as thrilling as ever.
Rapunzel
It doesn’t take much to imagine Rapunzel locked up in this lone tower standing solemnly in the woods, her long hair streaming down from the top window once she hears her prince call, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”
It doesn’t take much to imagine Rapunzel locked up in this lone tower standing solemnly in the woods, her long hair streaming down from the top window once she hears her prince call, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”
Alice in Wonderland
The whimsical quality of the mirrors on this tall hedge, coupled with the mismatched frames, glittering chandelier and colourful seat covers ready for a tea party with the Mad Hatter, all evoke Lewis Carroll’s famously surreal story of the girl who fell down a rabbit hole.
The whimsical quality of the mirrors on this tall hedge, coupled with the mismatched frames, glittering chandelier and colourful seat covers ready for a tea party with the Mad Hatter, all evoke Lewis Carroll’s famously surreal story of the girl who fell down a rabbit hole.
The Nightingale
Hans Christian Andersen’s melancholic tale of an emperor in the Far East and his love of the nightingale’s beautiful song evokes soft summer evenings and the harmonious serenity of an oriental garden.
Hans Christian Andersen’s melancholic tale of an emperor in the Far East and his love of the nightingale’s beautiful song evokes soft summer evenings and the harmonious serenity of an oriental garden.
Snow White
The lonely cottage in the forest is a common trope in fairytales, and can represent both danger and safety. In the case of Snow White, by the Brothers Grimm, the fairest of them all finds refuge in the home of the seven dwarfs in the middle of the forest after her stepmother attempts to murder her. Both mysterious and beckoning, the cottage in the forest has an undeniable atmospheric draw.
The lonely cottage in the forest is a common trope in fairytales, and can represent both danger and safety. In the case of Snow White, by the Brothers Grimm, the fairest of them all finds refuge in the home of the seven dwarfs in the middle of the forest after her stepmother attempts to murder her. Both mysterious and beckoning, the cottage in the forest has an undeniable atmospheric draw.
Beauty and the Beast
The Beast’s mighty and vast estate stands out proudly among his gardens, where Beauty’s father was tempted by the luscious roses and thus fell into the Beast’s clutches, leading Beauty to follow him. Wide, sprawling gardens and maze-like paths all contribute to the mysterious and bewildering atmosphere in the story.
The Beast’s mighty and vast estate stands out proudly among his gardens, where Beauty’s father was tempted by the luscious roses and thus fell into the Beast’s clutches, leading Beauty to follow him. Wide, sprawling gardens and maze-like paths all contribute to the mysterious and bewildering atmosphere in the story.
The Snow Queen
Hans Christian Andersen’s ultimate beauty with a heart of ice keeps her kingdom in a permanently frosty state, thus creating a melancholic, icy, but at the same time ethereally beautiful world.
Hans Christian Andersen’s ultimate beauty with a heart of ice keeps her kingdom in a permanently frosty state, thus creating a melancholic, icy, but at the same time ethereally beautiful world.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
You can just see a mischievous Oberon and Puck dashing among the trees, plotting and planning in this foggy, mysterious and slightly sinister forest scene. The Bard’s comedy of feuding fairies and love-struck Athenians couldn’t ask for a better, more otherworldly setting.
You can just see a mischievous Oberon and Puck dashing among the trees, plotting and planning in this foggy, mysterious and slightly sinister forest scene. The Bard’s comedy of feuding fairies and love-struck Athenians couldn’t ask for a better, more otherworldly setting.
Hansel and Gretel
Hidden deep in the woods, nestled among the trees and flowers, a gingerbread hue and a flash of brick reveals a small cottage, not unlike the one the hungry Hansel and Gretel stumble upon in the classic tale by the Brothers Grimm. Just make sure to refuse anything the old woman living inside might offer you…
Hidden deep in the woods, nestled among the trees and flowers, a gingerbread hue and a flash of brick reveals a small cottage, not unlike the one the hungry Hansel and Gretel stumble upon in the classic tale by the Brothers Grimm. Just make sure to refuse anything the old woman living inside might offer you…
Sleeping Beauty (Briar Rose)
When Sleeping Beauty falls into a cursed sleep after pricking her finger on a spindle, a well-intentioned fairy has the entire kingdom overgrown with roses, brambles and trees. A beautiful, rose-covered sanctuary, such as this one, seems fit for any princess – or prince – to rest under.
When Sleeping Beauty falls into a cursed sleep after pricking her finger on a spindle, a well-intentioned fairy has the entire kingdom overgrown with roses, brambles and trees. A beautiful, rose-covered sanctuary, such as this one, seems fit for any princess – or prince – to rest under.
The Frog Prince
In the Brothers Grimm tale, a princess drops a golden ball into a pond and promises to befriend a loquacious frog if he retrieves it for her. After regretting her promise and initially rejecting the frog, he reveals himself to be an enchanted prince. This beautiful, serene pond by a meadow is certainly a flawless setting for any pond gazing.
In the Brothers Grimm tale, a princess drops a golden ball into a pond and promises to befriend a loquacious frog if he retrieves it for her. After regretting her promise and initially rejecting the frog, he reveals himself to be an enchanted prince. This beautiful, serene pond by a meadow is certainly a flawless setting for any pond gazing.
Little Red Riding Hood
No matter how pretty the flowers on the side of the forest path may be, if a big wolf suggests you take a detour to pick them, you’re probably in trouble. Little Red Riding Hood found this out the hard way when she couldn’t resist the wolf’s suggestion and the siren call of the luscious, abundant forest flowers.
TELL US
Does your garden have an air of mystery and magic about it? We’d love to see photos in the Comments section.
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No matter how pretty the flowers on the side of the forest path may be, if a big wolf suggests you take a detour to pick them, you’re probably in trouble. Little Red Riding Hood found this out the hard way when she couldn’t resist the wolf’s suggestion and the siren call of the luscious, abundant forest flowers.
TELL US
Does your garden have an air of mystery and magic about it? We’d love to see photos in the Comments section.
MORE
Homes That Have Something to Say for Themselves
Cartoon Characters Take Over Animated Homes
Fun Houzz: Could You Get to Grips With a Climbing Wall?
Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved story about a neglected girl discovering a beautiful hidden garden illustrates the power of hope, faith and the fantastical. Step through the hidden threshold into a sanctuary where the imagination is given free rein.