Garden Gnomes and Knomes – Where to Buy a Garden Gnome
Garden gnomes have been around for many years. They were originally produced in Germany in the middle of the 1800′s, and quickly spread through France and England, places where there were many gardeners. Today some estimate that there are more than 20 million gnomes in Germany alone. These early gnomes were fashioned from terra cotta, but over the years they have been made from a variety of materials like ceramics. Many of the modern gnomes are made from a resin material, which is relatively inexpensive, can be easily molded, and is fairly lightweight. Some other cheaper garden gnomes are made from plastic, which may not weather as well, but could last in an enclosed patio.
The gnomes are based on some European folklore, and were thought to be helper for the garden that moved about at night. Sometimes they were slightly misshapen, with the occasional humpback. Today they are typically shown and small male creatures, almost always with a conical hat and a beard. There is a wealth of history about games being played with gnomes, sometimes involving whole communities in gnome hunts, others being simply a prankster hiding a neighbor’s gnome.
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Today it’s common to add a twist to the appearance of garden gnomes. You can find gnomes that represent your favorite professional teams, like NFL football teams, or collegiate gnomes outfitted with the colors of your alma mater. And there are funny gnomes, like the mooning gnomes, or evil gnomes. There is sure to be a garden gnome that will fit in your garden landscape.
Filed under Garden Landscaping by John
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