Today, Garden Gnomes are common figures in many garden settings. You will often find them peeking out from behind or around a bush. Garden gnomes look like small men usually with long beards and pointy red hats.
They are made from various materials such as terracotta, cement, resins, etc. From folk tales, gnome figures represent human-like figures who live in the garden or under the ground. Fortunately, I’ve, also, seen a few female gnomes wearing simple dresses and also that unique pointy red hat.
Brief History of Garden Gnomes
Checking online, gnomes first appeared in ancient Roman gardens of only the very wealthy. The figures protected the garden from evil and were thought to have almost magical powers. Others believed they would only come out at night to help the plants grow. In German fairy tales, the gnomes worked in the garden. So, it is not unusual to see a gnome figure pushing a wheelbarrow or having a garden tool in their hands.
Phillip Griebel of Germany is credited for making the first garden gnome with that well-known red hat.
After the production of Disney’s 1937 film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, gnome figures for the garden became even more sought after.
Gnomes Travel with Pranksters
Of course, most people have seen those online “traveling/vacationing” gnome photographs. During the 1970’s through the 1980’s, there was the idea that gnomes wanted to travel and be free from toiling in the garden.
Because of this, pranksters removed gnomes from gardens and took them on vacation with them. Photographs of the traveling gnome would then arrive at the gnome’s owner’s house or be noticed online. Finally, at some point, the missing gnome would appear back in the garden.
Ending Comments on Gnomes
Historically, gnomes go back a long ways, but today really add color and a playful mood to gardens. Gnomes symbolize protection, good luck, hard work, and perhaps some good natured mischief.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Please note, the stunningly-bright red twigged plants in the above outdoor photograph are Baily’s Redtwig Dogwood shrubs.
The vigorous, rounded deciduous shrub’s stems turn red in the winter and look wonderful against a white snowy background. They have small white blooms late in the spring. The green leaves turn a reddish-purple color in the fall. They work well as border plants, as an accent or in mass plantings. Baily’s Redtwig Dogwood shrub needs some pruning during the year.
Thank you to Merrifield Garden Center for allowing me to blog and take photographs at their garden store.
All items and plants in today’s blog, are available for purchase at the Merrifield Garden Center.
Resource Sites: Conservationgardenprak.com, wikipedia, symbolsage.com, and www.trees.com-history of garden gnomes.