Callie Fritz bounced up and down, excited to show off the “fairy tree” she and her sister had created.

“It’s my birthday today!” the newly minted 7-year-old exclaimed.

Callie and her older sister, Cameron, proudly showed off the miniature world they had created beneath the branches of a large oak tree in their front yard on Vernon Drive. Complete with tiny fairy houses, mushroom caps and miniature chairs and tables where fairies might stop to rest, the garden looks like something out of a storybook.

“It’s a living little playground for them,” explained their mother, KC Fritz.

What began as a creative project for two sisters has grown into something much bigger — a neighborhood attraction that has brought residents together, sparked conversations and inspired others to create their own miniature fairy worlds.

The Fritzes’ fairy garden has attracted the attention of neighbors, some of whom have contributed small gifts and decorations. Others have taken the idea a step further, adding fairy doors and whimsical displays to trees in their own front yards.

“I think it’s very sweet how one creative idea — the magic of it all — has sparked others,” neighbor Kelly Schraven said.

Schraven has added a fairy door to a tree in her yard and enjoys walking up the street to discover what other neighbors have created.

From a tiny fairy mailbox to a parade of winged toy fairies lounging on fallen leaves, each garden has its own personality. Together, the displays have transformed an ordinary neighborhood walk into an opportunity for discovery, particularly for children who delight in spotting the smallest details.

The fairy garden tradition began in 2025, after the Fritz family moved back to Mt. Lebanon.

“There was a pond after it rained,” Cameron explained, pointing to a hollow between the tree’s roots where rainwater had collected.

She placed tiny plastic ducks near the water, creating a miniature scene that became the starting point for the garden. Before long, the idea began to grow.

Their grandmother “brought us some of these houses and people started to add to it,” Cameron said.

What started with a few ducks and fairy houses gradually became an elaborate collection of tiny buildings, furniture and imaginative displays.

“My kids were always in the woods and outside,” KC said.

She believes the girls might have been inspired by a family trip during the pandemic to Mason-Dixon Park in Core, West Virginia.

The park’s Fairy Door Trail is about one-third of a mile long and features fairy doors and miniature scenes created by local artists and community members. A companion book allows visitors to follow along as they explore the trail.

The experience introduced the family to the idea that a simple walk-through nature could become an imaginative adventure, with unexpected discoveries waiting around a tree or along a path.

Back home on Vernon Drive, the girls found the perfect place to create their own version.

Because their fairy tree sits beside the sidewalk, it is easily visible to neighbors walking past. That location has helped turn the garden into an informal gathering place, where passersby can stop to admire the displays and talk with the family.

“A lot of people engage with the fairy garden and talk about it with them,” KC said.

She is pleased that her daughters’ creative outlet has become a source of joy for the neighborhood.

“That’s very Mt. Lebo,” she said. “It’s a community where you see people. Everybody enjoys the spirit of it.”

The garden also demonstrates how something small can strengthen neighborhood connections. A miniature house or fairy door might seem insignificant on its own, but the shared experience of discovering and contributing to the displays has given residents another reason to stop, talk and get to know one another.

 The family and neighbors said the fairy garden has helped them meet new people and connect with one another.

Cameron especially enjoys watching other children discover the tiny world she and her sister have created.

“There’s a little girl who walks by with her mom every night and she stops to play with [everything],” she said.

For the Fritz sisters, the garden is never truly finished. Its miniature landscape changes with the seasons, giving them new opportunities to imagine what their fairy visitors might be doing throughout the year.

For Halloween, the pond features a skeleton fishing. When winter arrives, it might become an ice-skating rink. The girls are already planning a Thanksgiving table where their imaginary visitors can gather for a holiday feast.

The changing displays keep the garden fresh for neighbors who pass by regularly. They also give the sisters a continuing project that combines outdoor play, storytelling and creativity.

“This is my favorite one,” Callie said, plucking a tiny wand from a small wicker table arranged to resemble a wizard’s magical display.

“It’s like from Harry Potter,” Cameron explained.

Nearby, Cameron knelt to put the finishing touches on a miniature fire pit, complete with tiny white marshmallows on sticks. Callie joined her, carefully pulling away weeds to clear the space.

The girls worked together beneath the oak tree, absorbed in the details of their imaginary world.

For KC, one of the most amusing parts of the entire project is its location. With a yard available for playing and exploring, her daughters have chosen a spot where they can interact with the neighborhood.

“Of all the places they want to be it’s right on the sidewalk,” she said, laughing.

Perhaps that is part of what makes the fairy garden so special. Rather than keeping their creativity tucked away in a backyard, the sisters have placed it where everyone can enjoy it.

And as neighbors continue adding their own miniature creations, the magic has spread beyond a single tree.

Schraven believes there is something especially fitting about the old oak becoming the centerpiece of this neighborhood tradition.

“I told the girls, ‘This tree has been waiting for you for a hundred years,’” she said.