Jun 10 2010
The Great Garden Gnome Debate
Nothing gets a lot of people into a heated debate more than the subject of garden gnomes. Are they tacky or lovely lawn ornaments? Is owning a yard gnome a show of good taste or a form of slavery? Is gnome (aka knome) ownership a matter of pride or of shame?
The debate all started with Phillip Griebel, the ceramics maker who first created these little creatures with pointed hats on the head and fishing rod in hand. He based his idea on a local folklore which says gnomes work at the gardens at night while these garden owners slept peacefully in their beds. Soon, these lawn ceramics found their way into the gardens of Europe. They were brought to the United Kingdom by Sir Charles Isham after his visit from Germany.
Nowadays, you can find yard gnomes in various forms – from the most innocent of pastimes to the most naughty of moonings – and made from materials varying from plastic to terracotta. They are considered so tacky that they are permanently banned from the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, a fact that is looked upon by many middle class English gardeners as pure and utter snobbery.
Garden gnomes are also considered the target of pranks and “kidnappings.” A well-known garden gnome prank is called the traveling gnome, where a garden gnome is stolen from its owners’ garden and taken on a cruise or to trips to various destinations. The hapless owners will be sent pictures of their beloved gnomes with famous landmarks on the background. Most of the time, they are mostly relocated to the forests where they can be “free.” The Italian-based Garden Gnome Liberation Front is notorious for this.
The hapless owner is, however, not entirely hapless. There are websites dedicated to letting these owners post information about their lost gnomes. The “kidnappers” can choose to leave ransom letters as well to make their demands for the return of the beloved little figurine.
So, which side of the fence are you on – gnome hater or gnome lover? It does not matter, you know? Whatever you do, garden gnomes are here to stay, and they will stay forever.
For more information about garden knomes, check out: Garden Gnome Statues. You will also find tips and videos at http://gardengnomestatues.com.