Magnolia Plantation & Gardens announces Fairies & Flowers, a new summer exhibition featuring 20+ handcrafted fairy dwellings installed throughout the historic gardens by 30 Tri-County artists, on view May 22 through July 12, 2026. Opening Memorial Day Weekend, the exhibition is included with general garden admission.
Inspired by the beloved, long-running Wee Faerie Village at the Florence Griswold Museum in Connecticut, Fairies & Flowers was developed with guidance from their team — bringing a similar sense of fairy village wonder to the Charleston community and the historic landscape of Magnolia's gardens.
Placed along winding garden paths and within the natural landscape, each miniature dwelling reflects its maker's creativity, with intricate details and touches of storytelling that invite close looking and quiet discovery. A simple "Can you find?" prompt adds an interactive element at each location, making the exhibition an engaging experience for guests of all ages. Visitors may come across a fairy lighthouse tucked among the greenery near the Ashley River, a tiny bookshop and bakery, or even a miniature museum, spa, or quilt shop — each offering a glimpse into a small, imaginative world where nature and creativity meet.
Participating artists include a mix of established and emerging talent: Jenna York, 2024 Griffith-Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year; Sheila Preston-Ford, president of the Summerville Artist Guild; Bartel Visser, who spent 25 years contributing to the Macy's Flower Show at Herald Square in New York City; and members of the Charleston Garden Club. Students and faculty from the West Ashley Center for Advanced Studies and Charleston School of the Arts also contribute works to the exhibition.
“Magnolia has always been a place where nature invites imagination,” said Susan Shallo, CEO of Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. “Fairies & Flowers lets visitors slow down and find something extraordinary hiding in plain sight. We’re proud to showcase the creativity of artists from right here in the Tri-County area — and to give our guests a reason to look at these gardens through entirely new eyes.”
Admission
- Adults: $32 (online) / $35 (in person)
- Seniors (62+) & Military: $29
- Children (5–13): $16
- Ages 4 & under: Free (ticket required)
- Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., May 22–July 12, 2026
- Tickets are available at the gate and online https://www.
magnoliaplantation.com/events/ fairies-and-flowers