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No Home Is Complete Without A Garden Gnome
by Hugh Harris-evans
http://www.garden-supplies-advisor.com
The one item of garden decor that excites more passion both
for and against is the garden gnome. More and more of these
nocturnal helpers are appearing in backyards everywhere
despite the fact that some folks just can't stand the sight
of them. Some years back it was the lawn jockey that held
pride of place in southern gardens, but now he has been
displaced by the humble gnome.
One explanation for the current fashion for garden gnomes
may be that they are always in the news. How often do you
read a story in the press about a birdbath or a plastic
frog? Open your local paper or make a search on Google and
you will always find stories about gnomes being kidnapped,
hoards of stolen gnomes being found in strange places and
postcards sent from abroad to owners whose gnomes have gone
travelling.
In the space of a few minutes I was able to find news of a
lady from Coventry who fought off a burglar using her
prized gnome as a weapon. When her collection of gnomes had
reached over two thousand different models, an Auburn woman
decided it was time to open a museum in her home. From
Sweden came a story about a group of twelve gnomes that had
been kidnapped several weeks ago had been found standing in
a ring in a forest.
In the city of Usti nad Labem in the Czech Republic these
creatures are treated with the respect that they deserve
and research is undertaken by a "garden gnome study group"
attached to its museum's national historical and geographic
society. Rather more radical ideals are espoused by the
Garden Gnome Liberation Front which is committed to "an end
to oppressive gardening and freedom for garden gnomes
everywhere".
With the current popularity of garden gnomes you will not
be surprised to learn that there are endless variations of
design and quality of the products that are offered for
sale. Prices range from $20 for small resin models to over
$300 for large handcrafted designs.
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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