Gnomes in Your Garden: Corny or Cute?
Written by Euphrasia Carroll
Gnomes are mythical creatures who began appearing as garden decorations in Europe in the 1800s. Their presence in gardens gained popularity because these little guys are believed to care for the earth and to help in the gardens during the night, when no one is looking.
Gnomes are small and usually wear pointed red hats. Mostly appearing as male, they have snowy white beards and are partial to smoking pipes. Many people love them, regardless of the fact that they are considered to be in poor taste by other folks. Evidently they were banned from the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in the UK, because the show’s organizers claimed that they detracted from the garden designs. But gnome enthusiasts took exception to this “snobbery.”
Whether you think gnomes are corny or cute, their prevalence as garden ornaments is so widespread that they make a whimsical topic for landscape lovers. I guess you could think of it sort of like McDonalds -- you might think Big Macs are an insult to gastronomy or you might think they’re a delectable, fortifying treat. But, despite the range of opinion, the evidence is in. By popular appeal, the golden arches can be found everywhere. And so it is with gnomes.
Here are some examples of garden gnomes for your entertainment and delight. No one’s suggesting you get one for your very own, but why not look and smile? Who knows? You might decide to invite one into your garden after all.
Sculptor Candace Kimmel creates 19th century reproductions of gnomes made of high-fired stoneware pottery. If you don’t find a gnome to your liking among the extensive collection shown on the website, you can add your name to the New Gnome Notification List for when new garden gnomes are added to the line.
Christopher the Gnome is holding up his lantern ready to guide the way for any animals that may be in need. Gnomes love to protect the environment and are known to be caregivers to the animals. Gnomes know the benefit of sowing kindness and harvesting love.
Here’s Mr. Fancypants Garden Gnome. He’s made of resin but “looks similar to and has the heft of solid hardwood.”
Fryar swings while he watches over the garden. According to German lore, garden gnomes were Mother Nature’s good luck ambassadors. Legend says that if there’s a gnome in your garden, your gardening will be more enjoyable and plentiful.
Finally, if you have over $1,000 to spend on a gnome, here’s the guy for you. His hat lifts to reveal an ink pot, and he is made of cast bronze. He is said to be a great desk piece for the discriminating collector of inkwells or bronzes. So he’s not a gnome to put in the garden... unless you decide to put him there, of course.
What others have said
My family loved the garden gnome. They were hidden all over the front and back garden. I have a secrete liking for them too, but they do not fit into today's modern gardens. I might just have to sneak one in.
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I think my son would wage war against garden gnomes. Now that I think about it that would be a great way to let him distract himself :)