By her cabin in the woods, a Ludington woman helps build a fairy house fit for any magical creature. It all started after the death of a pine tree several years ago.
“The pine tree got an infestation of some little insect that burrowed through its bark and laid eggs,” says Suz Clare. “Then the eggs hatched into larvae and the larvae just devoured all the sap from the pine tree. Over a few years, the pine tree finally died.”
The tree stump was not wasted though.
“When it needed to be cut down, I thought cut it tall, because I don’t want the roots drowned out because it’ll disturb the other two trees,” Clare said. “I didn’t want those to die. So I was going to have the tree guys cut it tall and put some parts on it and landscape around a little bit.”
Then the idea came to her: why waste a perfect tree stump.
“I thought, hey, we’re having a housing shortage right in the country, and maybe these little fairies are in the same little pickle,” she says.
The “fairies” cannot be seen with the naked eye. Clare says they sleep during the day and hide from plain sight. They can be seen if you use your imagination.
Despite not seeing them or hearing from them, Clare knew she could help find them a home.
“I can’t leave things on the side of the road. I’m sure I’m not alone,” she said. “What I thought was I’ll just leave a few things, periodically, for the forest fairies to use to build their new abode. They built the entrance, which is down below, and it’s made out of like driftwood and stones and lamp parts and bits and bottles. I had fun building that, and I had fun getting rid of some stuff.”
Just like many human homes, a sign greets any guest in the neighborhood who happen to stop by:
“Always choose to be kind, respectful, helpful, understanding, accepting, forgiving, open to all differences of all creations.. be still and listen.” – Forest Fairy Creed
Clare hopes each person that visits the fairies takes away with them this piece of magic that every person is capable of.
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