





Jennifer Sadler of Southeast Portland

is a gatherer. She finds stones, stems and shells, and ferrets out old birdbaths, dishes and light fixtures, anything that could qualify as material for the tiny homes she builds for fairies. "I've done sedum gardens for years," says Sadler, an artist who works in acrylics, as well as gold, copper and variegated leaf. Then a dangling tchotchke inspired something new. "I came across a little flying fairy in the Hawthorne District, and it gave me an idea, a vision ... of how to put together a fairy garden. They live in the woods and plants, so I could make their houses out of natural things. "

Sadler chooses a container, fills it with potting soil and covers the surface with wire mesh to hold the sedums she pokes through to mimic forests or gardens. Then she adds furniture and structures fashioned out of the square stems of tall verbena (

Verbena bonariensis

), which reseeds freely in her garden. The intricate work takes a week or two. So far, she's made six, four of which are for sale at Yesterday & Tomorrow in North Portland.

"The response has been extraordinary," says owner Helen Kubon.

Sadler is sure to let people know that the miniature gardens -- like any other planting -- need maintenance. Locate them in partial shade and keep them moist.

Next up, she says, is an entire town in a birdcage.

FAIRY GARDENS:

From $19 to $320; Yesterday & Tomorrow, 7506 N. Albina Ave., 503-459-3230,

-- Kym Pokorny