Between Epcot’s Italy and Germany pavillions lies nestled a miniature European town planted like a bonsai forest, alive with dwarf species of all real, living trees.

It’s similar, but not quite as grand, as the scenery in a ride at Disneyland.  As native Southern Californians with season passes, my wife and I visit Storybook Village several times a year.  I’ve always wanted one.

We live in a townhome with no proper yard.  There’s a patio, but the planter space is limited.  A miniature garden, then, seemed like just the thing…

With my last post before we embarked upon our 11-day adventure in Epcot, I urged readers to get a special bottle of wine and Take Some Time with it.  In so doing, I snuck in a couple of pictures of my own little developing horticultural hobby.  To my surprise, they got more reaction than most of my wine ramblings.

Admittedly, that was several months ago.  Well, better late than never says I.  Welcome to Diminishire (you can click through for larger photos).

The unseen residents of Diminishire are tiny, but tidy.  Wood piles remain neatly stacked outside cottages.

Lawns are green and trimmed.

Flower beds are (mostly) weeded and there’s even the occasional gnome.

The English garden is a popular attraction on the west end of town, it’s brick-lined gravel paths leading to the cottages of its quiet residents.

Or you can head past the gazing ball, through the arbor trellis, past the birdbath and beyond the garden walls.  The gravel path becomes cobblestone and just over the bridge lies the pub, while the manor atop the hill surveys it all.

When the weather’s nice, some prefer to sit outside the pub.  Take a bench beneath the apple tree.  I can’t be sure, but I strongly suspect the innkeep has been brewing cider with a kick from the windfalls.  If I listen closely at night, I can hear the revelry brought on from strong drink.

I made the trellis myself, but most of the accessories come from a couple of my favorites sites.  For the budding miniature gardeners out there, you really must visit Two Green Thumbs and Little Landscapes.  The cottage buildings themselves came from Design Toscano.

Then just walk around your local nursery.  Look for plants with small leaves and flowers.  Most of the difference between a shrub and a miniature tree is in the trimming.  Ground cover often works well for low flower beds.  Irish or Scottish moss makes a good lawn or grassy field.  Alyssums trim nicely into row hedges.  If you have an Armstrong’s near you, check out their Steppables section.  There’s all kinds of miniature-looking things there.

And don’t forget the herbs section.  Look closely and you’ll find authentic chamomile, dill and curry growing within the realm of Diminishire.  What do you know?  I think I just brought this post back around to Farmer’s Markets!

-inspector vino