A Recap of The Rosemary House Fairy Festival - 2025

The 31st Annual Rosemary House Fairy Festival is but a mere memory of fluttering fairies frolicking in the gardens, magical elves making mayhem and perhaps a few mischievous pixies here and there. Kids of all ages gathered in the gardens of The Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances over the weekend to play amongst the fairies and friends. 

The Fairie Godmother welcomed wishes with her super sized dandelion wand and raised them skyward with hopes and dreams secretly shared.

Face painting is always a special activity. Faces could be painted by Kit Kat Sparkles, or a do it yourself paint station was available where moms could try their hand on their own little fairy.

And Fairy Rose Fairy is always entertaining with her special stories, songs, and tea parties.

The Steppin Woofs were a new addition to the festival this year, adorned with their own fairy wings and performing tricks for those gathered in the back alley..

Bubbles are always popular and everyone was invited to try their hand at creating supersized colorful bubbles.

From Hargle Bargle to Soolah Hoops, from Moss Child and the Dragon Tamer Zorra Zo, from FlyLeaf the Book Fairy to Bubble Man, from Sparkle Pop to Gingernap to Fairy Lily it takes a cast of characters (coordinated by Susanna) to pull together the festivities that take place over two days in the gardens of the Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances. We look forward to seeing you next year, always the first weekend after Labor Day, the festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12th and Sunday Sept. 13th, 2026. See you then!

Bloom where you're planted!

or find your own spot, do your own thing.
Just bloom, and grow!

March!

March brings breezes loud and shrill,

Stirs the dancing daffodil

~Sara Coleridge (1802 - 1852)

Teatime for Kitty

Surprise presents are always the best! Our newest staff member brought a cat toy for our garden cats. She simply couldn't pass up this teacup cat toy when she saw it at a local pet store with her mom. Teacup shaped and filled with two little catnip tea bags, it was a very thoughtful gift.

Friskie, our garden cat, and the only one that enjoys catnip, checked it out, but sadly, wasn't really interested. He obviously prefers the fresh stuff. He'll have to wait for spring to enjoy that treat.

Here's Friskie with his nose in a healthy crop of fresh catnip. He has a wealth of catnip within his reach - spring thru summer and fall. He'll wait for the real deal.

Mad Hatter Tea Party - Menu

The Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland provided a magical moment in the gardens of The Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances this past week. They delighted young and old with their mad antics and youthful energy. We were pleased to welcome My Fantasy Party  to join us as hosts of this special summer event.

The menu included a nod to the colorful, wild, and wacky world of Wonderland. Our guests were offered Rosemary Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, and assorted hot tea. After the beverages, we offered Alice's Fresh Fruit Cup Full of Fruit, garnished with edible flower blossoms, pretty little blue borage blossoms.

The three tiered tray included an assortment of sandwiches, such as Dodo's Cucumber Round on Tomato Basil Bread, The Most Curious Square Egg with Parsley Butter Sandwich, Caterpillar's Favorite Festive Floral Sandwich, Ready for the Croquet Game Garden Veggie Tart, and (not pictured) Queen of Heart Strawberry Tarts, Did Someone Say Peanut Butter and Jelly?

 Tweedledee's English Cream Scones were placed on the middle tier alongside Tweedledum's Sweet Cream and Jelly and spreaders.

The top tier featured desserts, including Festive Funfetti Cookies, Chocolate 'Eat Me' Cakes, and a 'too cute to eat' Chocolate Cherry Dormouse.

"Take some more tea," the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. 
"I've had nothing yet, " Alice replied, in an offended tone, "so I can't take more." 
"You mean you can't take less," said the Hatter; "It's very easy to take more than nothing."



A fun time was had by all!

Mad Hatter Tea Party

Moms, dads, grandparents, and kids of all ages spent a summer morning in Wonderland this week. The gardens and pavilion behind The Rosemary House set the scene for this fun day. The weather was simply perfect, and enthusiasm was high for a festive event. Susanna set the scene with colorful tablecloths, tea party signs going this way and that way, tea cups hanging from the rafters, and even a Cheshire cat grin with out the cat. While guests enjoyed an Afternoon Tea (we'll share the menu tomorrow), the high point of the day was celebrated with the arrival of Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter.

These two delightful characters captured the attention of the audience and delighted with their hilarious banter and mad antics. My Fantasy Party characters filled their role to perfection, reading stories, and playing games in the garden, hunting for the Dormouse, and simply celebrating a very merry unbirthday party for everyone. With a logo of 'creating magical moments everyday', they certainly did that on this afternoon in Wonderland.

PA German Flower Lore

This colorful placard is posted at the Kutztown Folk Festival. This annual event is held the first week in July. (June 30 - July 8, 2018)  It runs for 10 days and features artisans and crafters of PA German heritage. We organize the herb garden for the event and have a booth as well. Not saying "Thank You" for a plant is a big deal around here as they won't grow or flower.  Do you do that as well?

Happy First Day of Summer!

                                           We're taking tea in the garden today. And you?

Happy May Day!

The first day of May! The tradition of secretly filling a basket full of pretty little blossoms and hanging it on a doorknob to surprise and delight an unsuspecting recipient has long passed. It was a special surprise waiting to be discovered by a neighbor or friend. This pretty little fine English bone china teacup by Aynsley, with its violets and blue ribbons circling the saucer, brings that lovely tradition to mind. So, dear friends, consider this your surprise basket of posies to celebrate May Day!

Give a Weed an Inch!

In the middle of winter --- no one is missing this part of the garden as it is covered in snow. Now that spring has officially sprung... let the weeds do their thing!

Photo from the summer we lost control...
and the weeds won!

Collections!

The tea room is laden with collections and treasures to be discovered. Thanks to the handy work of dear old dad, there are shelves in every room, including some that are tucked above doorways. In the back room, nestled high above, there is a collection of pyrographic art, artistic bowls, hand turned saffron containers, and unique treasures acquired abroad alongside the newest holiday acquisition.

The little wooden teapot was a gift from the NY sister, most likely a yard sale treasure. If you notice, it is actually a puzzle! One of those abominable puzzles that, if taken apart, would quickly end up a pile of pieces never to be in the shape of a teapot again. It has been safely stowed, out of reach, in hopes that it will always remain a tea pot to admire!

Flying Objects, Salt Lake City

In 2005 a series of sculptures entitled Flying Objects were erected along 300 South in Salt Lake City, UT. Since they were originally erected, various additional sculptures have been added over the years. This whimsical public art series includes a variety of different themes, but when a friend shared a photo of this fun sculpture, we made it one of our destinations while driving around Salt Lake City. For more information about this series, visit this website for additional  photos of sculptures in the series in a city described as having a vibrant art scene.

Rosemary House Fairy Festival by Molly

With the 2017 Fairy Festival only two weeks away, here's a look back at some memories of the event from the perspective of Intern Molly Sams:

 

Saturday was chilly, rainy, sunny - the weather never matters and it doesn't stop anyone who comes to have fun. There were plenty of little fairies, sprites, and knights frolicking through the garden trying to find the wee folk dancing between the raindrops. Nothing seemed to slow anyone down and I was able to say good-bye to plenty of families who were completely enthralled by their somewhat damp experience. The next day everyone was more than happy to see the sun again. Many children who came the day before stopped by and must have told what seemed to be all of their friends. It was wonderful to hear the chaotic symphony of giggles, singing, and jingles.

The children were not the only ones to have a great time, though. It was wonderful to see parents run with (and sometimes after) their children as well as dance and sing. Plenty of adults were more than happy to dress up and paint their faces with everyone. While I’m sure many parents are willing to be silly with their children everyday, for children it is always wonderful to see mothers and fathers become kids again, unafraid to play.

I was one of the luckiest workers at the festival. During the first day I was able to stay toasty warm and dry inside. My job was to help those through the store before they left and to hand out plenty of unique fairy names to all who could tell me how many fairy folk they saw. The second day I was lucky enough to be at the craft table where we made bottle cap magnets, paper mache covered bottles, and other fun crafts. This was where the fairy festival really came to life. I was able to watch the little ones’ creativity fly and the adults learn another way to see the world through their child’s eye. Many kids created absolutely stunning color combinations that surprised their parents and me. As the day moved on I became more amazed – and thrilled – by parents’ reactions to their children’s artwork.

While the weekend is centered on the children it is a perfect way to help the parents and caregivers see the world like a kid again. Simple, beautiful, colorful, and of course, magical.

These pictures and memories will definitely give me warm and fuzzy memories something to look forward to next fall.  Thanks to Fotos by Fudd for these great photos of our event. 

We look forward to seeing you Saturday, September 9th and Sunday, September 10th! Open from 10 am to 4 pm, admission is $5.00 person. Children under 3 are free. Please note: please park strollers on the side porch before entering the festival gardens. Thank you!
Visit our website for the Schedule of Events for each day.
The Rosemary House Fairy Festival

Gnome Invasion!

We have had an invasion of the cutest little gnomes. If you wander around the herb gardens, you might just find a little guy tucked here or there. This sweet little mushroom forest is home to a hand painted scene featuring assorted mushrooms and a little blue stream. A touch of wooly thyme is growing beneath the metal mushroom collection.

Nestled under the bay tree in another corner of the garden is this little gnome fruit and veggie vendor. We are the happy to be the guardians of these creative and artistic gnome scenes that were recently gifted to Susanna.

These little guys are poking their heads out from below some shrubbery.

And, if you look closely, tucked in a corner beside the gazebo is another one of Steve Hoke's gnome homes. We won this one during a fund raising event, and are happy to add it to the growing collection.