What is a Fairy Garden?

What is a fairy garden? Quite simply a fairy garden is a place for your fairies to dance, play and make mischief.

Why would you make a place for fairies? Well fairies can cause lots of trouble by making messes and pulling up plants; things you thought the squirrels or chipmunks did. And it is great for a table arrangement and for the grandkids to play. Fairies like when you rearrange the garden.

How do you put together a fairy garden? You need a few things and a big imagination. When designing your garden, fairies need place to dance, a place to hide, and a place to sleep.

Of course we will be hosting a fairy garden workshop January 28th to help inspire and guide you through. Reserve and build your own space, complete with fairy dust to bring your fairies. Call the shoppe for more details.

See you in 2012

Good bye to a good 2011. Can't complain. We are off for our family vacation and will see you in 2012. Our winter hours will be: Tuesday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm. It get cold at the shoppe and not much is growing. But we will still be here so come by and harass us.

The Sweet's

Welcome to December!

December is here and as soon as it began, it will be over. This year allow The Royal Gardens to help you with Christmas. Here is a list of wonderful gift ideas that we have: (but don't wait too late)

Birdbaths, fountains, gloves, bulbs, towels, boxer shorts, birdfeeder, hummingbird feeders, garden markers, herb markers, and of course much much more.

All Christmas is 20% and we have some really beautiful things this year. Also we have fresh wreaths.

We gift wrap too!

Small Business Saturday - American Express

Come shop The Royal Gardens. You can't get anymore local family small business than us!
November 26th 9:30 to 5:00.

Balls!

Simple fountain and concrete balls make this simple landscape inviting.
Something else that is inviting is The Royal Gardens. We are getting ready for Christmas (I know it's early but you will love it when you see it).
This weekend we are having a Herb Workshop. Everything you wanted to know about herbs.
(pic from Lonnymag.com)

Blacklion Dilworth

The Royal Gardens has just opened up a satelite space at Blacklion Dilworth. The new location of Blacklion is located on 1408-C East Boulevard (where the old Tally's Grocery used to be.) Come out and see us at either location.
Also we just got a NEW SHIPMENT of concrete for you. Lots of new things, new fountains, containers!
Happy Halloween!

Workshop Schedule for September

We had so much fun (as you did too) with our workshops last spring that we thought we would do it again this fall. Call to save your space.
Workshop Schedule for Saturday's in September
September 10 - Herbs- Herbal advice
September 17 - Fairy Gardens - Create a world for your fairies
September 24 - Containers - Create lasting containers for fall and winter.

Happy August!

After the rain. After all the paths washed out. After cleaning all the sticks and branches out. We are still here. Just remember the rain is good for the crops and gardens.
We have extended the 20% off everything in the shoppe. Still lots of wonderful goodies.

Something that likes the Hot!

The Echinacea likes it hot. It's one of the only perennial that likes to bloom strong this time of year. What's growing in your garden?

Sale 20% off everything! Wow! But only for a few more days. . .

Friend of The Royal Gardens, Bruce Clodfelter, is featured in the July 2011 issue of Better Homes & Gardens. Here is one of the wonderful photos of Bruce's landscape project.

Perfect for adding color to your landscape these ceramic balls are $29.99 for the 8-inch, $49.99 for the 12 inch, and $79.99 for the 16 inch. ". . .the rain chain ($99) neatly replaces a previous ugly downspout. Bruce enjoys watching water cascade down during a summer storm or freeze into icicles in winter."

Stop by and see us. Our A/C is working great!

Closed for Vacation . . .

Twice a year we close all 3 businesses* for our family vacation. July 4th week is here and off we go. A whole week for us to enjoy sun, sand, food, rest and whatever else comes or goes this week.

*We close the The Royal Gardens on Seventh Street, the landscape division, and the maintenence division for one whole glorious week.

See you when we get back.

CLOSED Saturday, July 2nd thru Tuesday, July 12th.

First Day of Summer

Happy First Day of Summer! Things are quieting down around the shoppe. While you are vacationing, we are recieving new shipments of pots and fountains. So when you get back in town please stop by and take a look.


This is Joe and he will make mischief in your garden. But he is fun to be around.

Getting to know you

"I have driven by for years and just decided to stop today!" said one customer.

Let me tell you about who we are. Andrea and Larrie Sweet own and run The Royal Gardens shoppe with their daughter Lara, on Seventh Street (across from the Cajun Queen Restuarant in the Elizabeth Neighborhood). Fountains, containers, statues, antique roses, herbs, and very cute gift items are what we are known for.

We also have a Landscape division and a Maintenence Division. Jared Sweet owns and runs the Landscape division and Garth owns and runs the Maintenence.

We have been here for 17 years and plan to be around for alot longer. Make it a point to stop by and see what there is to see.

Needless to say, we work each day together. We are a small local family business. We do great work and we care about what we do. It is a direct reflection of who we are.

Stop by. Check out what we have and do. Become part of our family.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom called and she wants antique roses, fountains, herbs, and a beautiful statue to complete her garden. As usual, we have great garden gifts, but we also have colorful market baskets and very cute moss purses for planting.

In the store we were just remarking about how time has flown by. Did April happen? Now Mother's Day and graduation is upon us. Soon the kids will be out of school terrorizing the neighborhoods.

Recently a few orders of concrete and glazed pottery have come in. So we have lots to choose from. And of course we have lots of ideas to help fill those pots. Come by the shoppe and we will help.

Who Says They Don't Grow Here!

Well technically it's not the right zone for Lilies of the Valley. But these little beauties are tucked under a big oak tree in lots of danger of dogs, kids and occasionally a chicken or three. I enjoy them only for a few days before they are just a memory. Funny where plants decide to take root and thrive.

New Pots!!

This past week has been very busy with deliveries and shipments. Let's just say, we are packed to the gills with glazed containers, concrete, statues, herbs, and the cutest fairy garden accessories.

You had such a good time with the free workshops in March that we are continuing them in April. Here's the schedule:

April 2nd - Bring water to your garden with fountains and birdbaths.

April 9th - Farm in your containers. Herbs, veggies, and more in your containers.

April 16th - Garden Party. Always time to party in spring

April 23th - Create your own Fairy Garden container.

April 30th - Antique Roses/ Mint Museum Garden Tour.- Wow! Wow! Wow!

Shop Local

Shop locally and keep our schools, libraries, and roads open and good shape. For every $25 you spend in Charlotte, here's how much stays in Charlotte when you shop here at:

The Royal Gardens $13.75

Any chain store

(Barnes & Nobles, Costco, Lowe's, Home Depot) $3.30

Internet Sales $0.00

(Thanks to Sally Brewster at Park Road Books for reminding us of this information)

Fun At Fairy Garden Workshop

Gretchen and Anne had a wonderful time creating these tiny gardens for their mountain fairies. Adding moss and plants and rocks for the fairies to dance on.

By adding the fence (to keep rowdy fairies contained) and a house (built by Nancy) this garden turned into a wonderful oasis.

You can schedule your time to come by and create your garden for your fairies. Please reserve your time so we can round up some fairies for you.

Antique Rose Workshop

Do you remember walking through your grandmother's garden and smelling the sweet hypnotic smell of roses? Marie Pavie (the Children's Rose, 1888), Old Blush, Madame Alfred Carriere (1879) are some of the over 500 varieties of Antique roses that are available. Some varieties have been around for over 200 years and they each have a story. (Wouldn't you have a story if you were around that long!)

Sombreuil (1850)has 110 petals on its roses and Old Blush (1752) is nearly thornless and relatively care-free.

What makes them antique? Well, they have been around for a while but also they are disease resistant, evergreen, and drought tolerant. Antique roses are easy to grow because it is UNNECESSARY to spray. Only fertilize them in the spring and in the fall, trim out dead wood, and enjoy them. It's truly that easy.

Learn more about the ease, history, characteristics, and varieties of antique roses March 19th. Please call to reserve your space.

(photo from Antique Rose Emporium. Rose is called Lafter, 1948)

Faery Gardening

Faery gardens create habitats for your mythical garden friends. You know, the ones that dance in your garden at night. Faeries can cause trouble IF they do not have a garden habitat.

Let us show you what's involved with making a faery garden. Our workshop will involve the basic design of which you will get to take home.

It will take a bit of imagination and whimsey, but trust us, the fun you'll have will create a lasting family memory. And warning . . . can be addictive. Call us for details!