Healing the Earth, One Tiny Garden at a Time
- Diana Pierce
- Jul 16
- 4 min read
Last summer, while visiting the Munsinger Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud, I was captivated by a whimsical area designed with children in mind.
Nestled between blooming borders were tiny figurines—garden gnomes mingling with dinosaurs—an imaginative invitation for young visitors to explore.
It was clear that the garden’s caretakers wanted little ones to feel welcome, to play, and to let their imaginations bloom alongside the flowers.
So when I heard that longtime friend and garden expert Heidi Heiland was offering a Fairy Garden Workshop and walkabout at her GrowHaus location in Corcoran, Minnesota, I knew I needed to learn more.
At Heidi’s GrowHaus, whimsy is in full bloom. The upcoming Fairy Garden Workshop, held at the end of July, isn’t just about crafting—it’s about reconnecting with a sense of wonder. It invites both children and the “adult kids” they bring along to dream, to play, and to get their hands in the soil.
Fairy gardens, Heidi says, are wonderfully approachable.
They don’t require expansive space or elaborate planning. Instead, they offer a chance to slow down and engage with nature in manageable, joyful ways—one tiny plant, one miniature door, one scoop of mulch at a time.
At GrowHaus, the experience goes even further with what Heidi affectionately calls a “scratch and sniff” walk. Families are encouraged to explore the grounds, touch the leaves, smell the herbs, and interact with plants that may be completely new to them. It’s gardening that awakens the senses.
The inspiration for these fairy spaces stems from a moment years ago, when Heidi was chaperoning a school trip to Wolf Ridge. As part of an activity, the adults were asked to lie flat on the forest floor and observe the woods from a child’s-eye view. “Even a seedling looked monumental,” Heidi recalls. “It felt like a magical cathedral.” That day, she saw the world from a fairy’s-eye view—and it changed how she engaged with nature forever.
But her love of gardens took root much earlier. As a child, Heidi followed her mother through backyard garden beds—a quiet ritual passed down through generations.
She fondly remembers being paid half a penny for each dandelion she plucked from the lawn. “It was just part of life,” she says. “Gardens were always around me.” That blend of play, responsibility, and connection to the land became her foundation.
Those early lessons eventually brought her to television. For ten years, Heidi appeared monthly on KARE 11 News at 4pm, offering timely tips and seasonal advice to home gardeners.
She credits that chapter to a pivotal invitation. “Diana, you saw something in me,” she told me recently. “That one gesture to join you on-air shaped an entire chapter of my life.” Her time on TV sharpened her ability to distill garden wisdom into just a few meaningful minutes—something she now brings to each visitor at GrowHaus.
Her work extends well beyond fairy gardens and media. With certifications in horticultural therapy and permaculture, Heidi has traveled across the country to explore how gardening can support physical, emotional, and cognitive healing.
Whether used in tandem with occupational therapy or simply through the act of touching soil, the benefits are real and measurable.
“Healing the planet one garden at a time” isn’t just a line on her website—it’s a philosophy rooted in science and hope. Heidi often shares how soil releases naturally occurring bacteria that boost serotonin. “It’s nature’s own therapy,” she says. “We don’t need to change the world in seismic ways. Just take small, beautiful steps—one garden, one container, one fairy door at a time.”
And through it all, she reminds us to “Bloom On.” At 63, Heidi says she gardens differently than she did at 43—but the joy hasn’t changed. “It’s not about pretending things aren’t hard,” she says. “It’s about choosing where to put your energy. I’d rather shine a light on what’s still possible.”
That light shines through every tiny fairy gate and whispered invitation to pause. For anyone looking to add a little magic to their home, Heidi’s advice is simple: start small. “It might be a pot with moss and a hidden door. Or lemon thyme by your front steps. Wonder doesn’t require acres. Just an open heart—and an invitation.”
Whether you’re five or sixty-five, there’s magic waiting—one tiny garden at a time.
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Fairy Garden Tour & Workshop at GrowHaus https://www.growhausmn.com/•
When: July 26 | 10:30am – 12:00pm
Where: GrowHaus Campus, 7555 County Rd. 116, Corcoran, MN 55340
Who: Kids, adults, and all who love to dream
How: Fee is $15. Register at: https://www.growhausmn.com/calendar_details/307/1941
And as Heidi says, no matter your age or season of life: Bloom on.
Diana Pierce
Diana Pierce Photography
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About the Author: Diana Pierce is a floral photographer, writer, and Art in Bloom participant who shares her passion for flowers and creativity through her newsletter, Bloom With Me.
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