"Just find your happy place." Wise words of a close friend when you're about to rip your hair out. Do you ever ask yourself where that place is? I mean, it's a place in our hearts that we all go to when life seems to get the better of us, but what does that place look like? Is it a beach, or a cabin in the woods? Unfortunately, there is a large population of us that don't have a beach in our back yard, or have access to a cabin tucked away from the stress of life. However, outside our windows, wherever we are is the great Northwest, and it is full of places that we can escape and find a moment to breath.

Lakewold Gardens just happens to be one of those places. If you haven't visited the gardens, it can only be described as overwhelmingly peaceful.

Lakewold has a very rich history. The Lakewold estate started construction in 1908, and was first owned by Emma Alexander. Flashing forward, the estate was bought by Eulalie Wagner in 1978. This was the beginning of the Lakewold Gardens that you see today. She was the true visionary behind the estate. Wagner had the passion for gardening, which made it easy to see the potential that the gardens had, and was quite the party host. "She once froze her tulips in the courtyard because she didn't want them to be wilted for a party on that Saturday. I couldn't believe she pulled that off," one of the volunteers told me.

As magical as the garden is, this weekend, Lakewold will be hosting Fairyfest, May 19-21.  It is full of magic and music. The show starts Friday at 10:30 a.m., with Elemental Impressions who specializes in fairy folklore music. Finishing Friday is a Fairy Princess Dance Class, provided by Lakewold staff. Saturday, there will be a guest appearance by Amy Brown. If you haven't seen Amy Brown's work, she is a fantasy artist and a Northwest native. She started painting fairies in 1992, and now is a nationwide known artist, with two published books of her art. All weekend there will be fairy houses through the garden paths, where the fairies will be staying. These being just some of the events that will be happening this weekend -  something you have to see, and believe in the magic for yourself.             

Fairyfest, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday-Sunday, May 19-21, Lakewold Gardens, 12317 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, Lakewood, lakewoldgardens.org