What Were They?

I've had lots of experiences that have revealed to me that there is more to life than meets the eye. but this one happenend when I was about 3-4 years of age, and I still maintain despite what people say, that it was real rather than imagined. 
I was sat outside in my garden, looking at the flowers, when I noticed 3 little people. I was only small, but they were tiny. I would guess that they were about 8" tall. they were all female, one that appeared to be in charge, showing the other two what to do. the discussion seemed to be about working with the flowers. I watched them for a while, and then one of the younger ones noticed me and, startled, exclaimed "she can see us!" The older one then turned to me and looked right at me for a few moments, then said "she's no harm" and turned back to the other two, and carried on with her business of instructing them. Unfortunately at this point, my mother turned up and despite my protests, took me inside. I never saw them, or anyothers since. The thing is, what were they? I've always imagined them to be faires, yet I saw no wings, and they weren't typically beautiful, or pretty, their faces were fairly average - looking. and what of the way the elder one spoke? those were the very words she spoke rather than the terminology  I would have expected. If anyone can enlighten me on what is a personal mystery that I've wondered about for half a century, I would be delighted!