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No Home Is Complete Without A Garden Gnome
by Hugh Harris-evans
http://www.garden-supplies-advisor.com
Garden gnomes are one of those items of yard decor that you
either love or hate. While some consider them to be cheap
and tacky, more and more people are adding one or two of
these cheerful little characters to their gardens. Until a
few years ago the lawn jockey was the favorite ornament
found in gardens in the south and west, but recently, it
seems, the gnome has risen in popularity and now rules
supreme.
While stories about birdbaths or plastic frogs will never
make the front page, garden gnomes are seldom out of the
news. Editors always find space for gnome stories in their
papers, and a search on Yahoo will never fail to turn up
countless entries about these creatures. Kidnappings are
far too common, and often a hoard of the little men is
found hidden in woods.
Before writing this article, I made a quick search which
turned up a story from Sweden about a group of twelve
gnomes kidnapped a month ago that had been found standing
in a ring in a snowy forest. Another story told of an
Auburn woman who is planning to open a museum in her home
to show off her collection of more than two thousand
different gnomes. An Australian newspaper was shocked to
find a shop displaying "Female gnomes in bikinis. With no
tops on".
The importance of these creatures can be judged by the way
they are regarded in the Czech Republic where the city of
Usti nad Labem's museum has a "garden gnome study group"
attached to its national historical and geographic society.
Another group which advocates "an end to oppressive
gardening and freedom for garden gnomes everywhere" is the
"Garden Gnome Liberation Front".
You will not be surprised to learn that the current fashion
for garden gnomes has resulted in a rapid growth in the
designs and sizes of these craetures that are being offered
for sale. There is a wide range of quality and price. While
a small resin gnome will cost you $20, a large handcrafted
design is priced at $300 or more.
Wil Huygen and Rien Poortvliet have published a book on
gnomes that has become a classic. The illustrations show a
family that claims to be the "only authentic Classic Gnomes
from the Forest". I have recently added a Garden Gnome
Gallery to my website showing some of the gnomes made from
these designs which you can find at:
http://www.garden-supplies-advisor.com/gardengnome.html
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