Beloved Curiosity: The Garden Gnome

The garden gnome's history begins with mid-19th century Germany. Phillip Griebel began producing terra cotta garden animals/creatures for people to display in their garden so that they may admire and remember the work the creatures do in the garden at night. The gnome, who existed as a willing and helpful character in German folklore was one of these creatures. The popularity of the garden gnome grew quickly, yet their production didn't grow further than Germany for a while.

Gnoming, or stealing someone's garden gnome, is a wildly popular "crime." The motive is to return the gnome to the wild, and there are organizations for the cause, such as France's Front de Liberation des Nains de Jardins as well as Italy's MALAG (Garden Gnome Liberation Front).
This was the beginning of sending a gnome around the world and taking photos of its journey to send home to the owner... (I believe the first incident occured in Australia in 1997. A note from the gnome was left behind for the owner and pictures followed. Owner was distraught. Great stuff.)

For more information, in English, check out Free the Gnomes.

Who doesn't feel a great sense of childlike mirth when you see a gnome?

Here are some special Etsy gnome finds...

LEFT:Gnome door, from NothinButWood. This 9"x7" hand crafted door is absolutely whimsical and would look great in the back yard. You can choose from several styles, and the cimney is available, too! I imagine one day playing in the garden with my future children, telling stories about the gnome in the backyard. Oh, and the door doesn't open (for humans)!
RIGHT:gnome hat, from pixiebell. I think this hat is really fun, and I would think it could bring a lot of joy to a dreary winter day. I would absolutely wear this.


LEFT:Gnome at dusk pillow cover, from Pixelknit. This pillow cover is loom knit and speaks so well to the quirky sophistication of many contemporary designs. The simple contour of the gnome could go a few minutes without recognition, but what a surprise when one of your house guests finally sees it!
RIGHT:Knit Your Own Gnome kit, from greenmountain. This seller has created a unique kit to make one of these adorable little gnomes with hand dyed yarn. Knitting kits have been popular gifts for a few years, but this one is so unique! Even a non-knitter would love this.


LEFT:Acorn Habitat Moss Terranium, from Betty's Love. This seller harvest her own moss and puts so much effort and know-how into these terraniums. The little gnome home is also hand painted. The terranium measure 4" tall and could be the purveyor of many a daydream if set on your office desk. Terraniums are so easy to keep alive and can be that little green something for the person lacking a green thumb.
RIGHT:Spring Garden Gazebo, also from Betty's Love. Okay, I am officially in love with Betty. This is a handmade deluxe gnome home to go in your terranium. How awesome??


LEFT:Mushroom and Gnome Gocco Embroidery Kit, from ricracsews. Another excellent gift idea, for someone else or just as a little gift to yourself. The kit comes with the hand gocco print pieces and instructions for embroidering the pieces. I love this.
RIGHT:Made to order gnome dress with miniature gnome baby, from germandolls. I don't have children (yet), but when I do, I am buying this. I think it is the single most adorable child's outfit EVER. How clever to have a pouch with a gnome baby??

Deeply rooted.

So I'm still on my gardening kick. I've spent about ten hours over the past two days cleaning up our three yards, cutting back overgrowth, cleaning flower beds, and potting Spring plants. Seeing as how we rent our house, it makes a lot of sense to pot plants seeing as how I can take them wherever we end up (except for maybe on the road). Potted plants are also a great way to satisfy my great anticipation of all things Spring. I've potted some iris bulbs I rescued from bad bed, French lavender, Rosemary, and Cilantro. I ran out of pots today so I'm keeping an eye open for some new planters. I usually grab interesting ones that I comes across at yard/estate sales and thrift stores, but Etsy has got some really cool ones...

Clayflower22 makes these INCREDIBLE hand painted planters from antique doll heads. Here are some of my favorites. (Just click the photo to go to the specific page!)





left: handmade planter from Inkypots.
right: handmade clay planter from Lori Koop. Check her out--she's an amazing potter.


left: vintage jaguar planter, from InspirationMemories.
right: Grouchy Pot planter, from JMNPOTTERY.



left: knotty Oak planter, from lauri706.
right: Capodimonte swan planter, from TheEnchantedAttic.

How does your garden grow??

Seeing as how good ole Phil the Groundhog has seen his shadow and we only have six weeks left of winter, I'm reading up on starting a garden! I've never really had a green thumb, but the springs and summers of my childhood are filled with many memories of tomato vines and strawberry picking and apple trees and rose gardens and on and on. I was surrounded by some amazing women with the horticultural gift.

So after having kept a couple house plants alive for more than 12 months, it's time to move into my garden. The husband and I have lived in a really great little rental house for going on three years. One of the reasons we moved into this place was because of the incredible yard--actually it's three full yards. The front yard has some hydrangeas. The side lawn has pecan trees, rose bushes, and some other flowering trees I can't identify. The back yard has an enormous magnolia tree right in the middle, providing shade for our house (saving us a ton in electricity costs when it's 100+ degrees outside). There are rose bushes, irises, fig trees, and lots of ivy.

I have to figure out a way to plant what I want to plant so that our dogs don't destroy the garden...but I want to plant tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, arugula, dahlias, tulips, fragrant verbena, sunflowers, lots of herbs, and on and on...


Domino, which sadly is soon to be no more, has these great garden layouts online. They're based on the gardens of Oscar de la Renta and are really smart and pretty. Thanks to Jackie at peppermags for blogging on these great garden designs!


Here are some other great links for the beginning gardener (or if you just need to brush up or ask questions!)

The Germinatrix...This was a great gardening Q&A blog featured on Domino's web site. I'm not sure how long it'll be up, but go there and take notes!!

You Grow Girl...This is a really revolutionary site--people trying to change the way the gardener/human relates to plants, emphasizing environmentalism and laid-back gardening. Awesome, awesome, awesome.

Garden Harvest Supply...Thanks to Leatherneck Joe for the tip!

Hastings Garden Center...Check out all the great info under the "Garden Wise" tab; be sure to look at their potted garden layouts.
Enjoy exploring and planning. I'll be dreaming up big gardens as I stare out into the Monday rainstorm.