Gnome Gnews

Garden Gnomes In The News!
It's not often, but every now and again, we are treated to a news story related to garden gnomes. These articles range anwhere from hilarious to completely outrageous. Either way, they are completely entertaining and we've made it our mission to make sure that you can find them all here.

Oregon garden gnomes offer troops some photo fun (July 26, 2011)
They are unflinching in the face of the danger. They are tireless and stoic. They perform any mission — whether patrolling at the tip of the spear or riding a desk in the rear — without complaint. They deploy and they sacrifice.[Full Story]

Idaho soldiers bring good luck BSU gnome to Iraq (July 25, 2011)
TThe 391st engineers have one of the most stressful jobs in Iraq. Clearing bombs from roads for friendly forces to drive safely. Along for the ride is a reminder of home that's become an unofficial mascot.[Full Story]

Geek gardening: How to make Superhero Garden Gnomes (with video) (July 02, 2011)
Last week, I shared a some relatively simple how-to instructions for making NES Stepping Stones to give your garden or outdoor space that unique, geeky touch. This week, I'm amping up the how-to — both in complexity and geek factor — with instructions from Instructables.com member The Papier Boy on how to modify a garden gnome to create a Superhero Garden Gnome. (See video of Batman, Robin and Spider-Man "SuperGnomes" below.)[Full Story]

Former AdMob boss Omar Hamoui reveals his next big thing: gnomes (June 21, 2011)
Location-based photo gnomes with a mobile social twist, mind...

Former AdMob boss Omar Hamoui left Google relatively quickly after it acquired his mobile advertising firm, and launched a company called Churn Labs to work on a series of apps.[Full Story]

Garden gnomes in summer increase (May 5, 2011)
The number of garden gnomes is set to increase by 1.4 million this summer as people look to "cheer up" their homes, a report has predicted.

But the expected rise in the gnome population could also spark more thefts, warned Halifax Home Insurance.[Full Story]

Grandmother's last wish to have gnomes lining funeral route scuppered - by ELF and safety killjoys (May 4, 2011)
Over her lifetime she had collected a series of garden gnomes from all over the country.

So when it came to her funeral, Veronica Pratt had one special request – she wanted the colourful little characters to line the route.[Full Story]

Robert Zemeckis Knows How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack (April 14, 2011)
Robert Zemeckis is making plans to adapt the humorous defensive manual, How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack, Variety reports.

The book, released last year, is described by the author, Chuck Sambuchino, as follows:[Full Story]

Leprechaun vs. Gnome: Battle of the littlest (March 16, 2011)
Even on St. Patrick's Day, it seems like gnomes are gaining an edge over leprechauns.

The little green guys who got their start as Irish folklore fairies busily storing gold coins in pots of gold used to be all over the place -- advertising, movies and children's cereal.[Full Story]

'Gnomeo & Juliet' Tops Weekend Box Office (February 28, 2011)
Some folks thought a 3-D retelling of a Shakespearean classic starring computer-generated garden gnomes in the title roles and backed by the music of Sir Elton John wouldn't work. But the joke is on them.

"Gnomeo & Juliet" was the #1 movie at the box office over the weekend, besting newcomers "Hall Pass" and the underperforming "Drive Angry 3D." Nobody is happier than the film's executive producer.[Full Story]

Royal wedding gnomes expected to bring perfect bliss to B&Q (February 17, 2011)
B&Q is hoping for a royal wedding boost, if not from DIY enthusiasts using the extra bank holiday for jobs around the home, then from enthusiastic gardeners snapping up its special royal wedding gnomes.

It is not the first time the company has turned to celebratory gnomes to take advantage of major national events – it produced a special football gnome for last year's World Cup. [Full Story]

Newsweek features Ames garden gnome (February 15, 2011)
It’s official: Elwood is now a centerfold model.

The 15-foot, 3-inch concrete garden gnome that a Wisconsin sculptor installed last year at Reiman Gardens is featured in spread in the Feb. 14 issue of Newsweek. [Full Story]

Gnomeo and Juliet, Not Your Garden Variety Love Story (February 11, 2011)
The first garden gnome we meet in Gnomeo and Juliet said it best when he stands on the stage and boldly states, “It’s all quite entertaining.” And in speaking of the garden statues take on the William Shakespeare classic, this little gnome is most definitely speaking the truth.

This animated 3D feature – directed by Kelly Asbury - pulses to a charismatic soundtrack by the one and only Sir Elton John. It tells the tale of a intense family feud between the neighboring red gnomes and blue gnomes. And just as in Shakespeare’s uber important and influential play, a girl and a boy fall for each other, when they aren’t supposed to. Chaos, and in this case, chuckles ensue. [Full Story]

Garden gnomes take Jacksonville playwright to national win (January 10, 2011)
The first time Aliza Goldstein got a playwright award as a high school sophomore, she jumped and shrieked at the top of her lungs. Four years and a handful of national recognitions later, Goldstein is experienced enough at winning to be subdued.[Full Story]

Wandering gnome-ads: Figures roam Loveland, raising money for Explorers (January 08, 2011)
A mysterious breed has moved into Loveland, stealthily and secretly.

Brightly colored, whimsical garden gnomes are popping up in unexpected places with a unique mission — to bring smiles and to raise money for the Loveland Police Department Explorer program.[Full Story]

Madonna Stolen And Replaced By Garden Gnome Atop Italian Mountain (January 03, 2011)
A statue of the Madonna was swiped from the top of an Italian mountain and replaced with a garden gnome, ANSA reported Monday.

A mountaineering group revealed it was behind the novelty ornament's miraculous appearance this week at the summit of Mount Pinto in Padua, in northern Italy. [Full Story]

Gnome garden’s a reason to smile (August 04, 2010)
THERE is no place like gnome as a secret world is unveiled at Russells Hall Hospital.The colourful gnome garden has been built outside the outpatients department by Steve Ford, in his bid to bring a smile to the faces of the hospital's patients.[Full Story]

Gnome-bers crunch (April 05, 2010)
For residents of the small community of Strasburg, there really is “gnome place like home.” A couple of years ago, residents chose the garden gnome to represent the village, and now, organizers are looking to take count of their village mascot with their own census — one that focuses on the mythical creature and its place in the yards of homes throughout the community.[Full Story]

Cage the Elephant singer has the gnome-sick blues (March 12, 2010)
The American Psychological Association might not recognize gnomophobia; however, Cage the Elephant singer Matthew Shultz can attest this condition is real. And what is it?[Full Story]

Globetrotting gnome inspires books (August 29, 2009)
A garden gnome who was kidnapped, taken around the world then returned to his owner's doorstep with an album of photos has become the star of a children's book series.[Full Story]

Third Trip for Roaming Gnome (August 25, 2009)
He left rather abruptly late in the evening on May 19. Simon hadn’t gone away since last August, but owner Nancy Ubell knew he was destined to disappear. “Man in Hoodie” had already left messages saying he wanted to take Simon away again. [Full Story]

Gnome Sweet Gnome (August 11, 2008)
It's a case of gnome sweet gnome for one lucky leprechaun who has been returned to its owner after being taken all over the world by gnome-nappers. [Full Story]

Police 'Liberate' Stolen Gnomes (August 10, 2009)
Police have recovered 30 stolen garden gnomes during a night-time raid which netted more than 160 other garden ornaments. [Full Story]

Gnomes To Rise From the Ashes (August 08, 2009)
An octogenarian is determined his garden gnome cottage industry will rise from the ashes after his prized collection of gnomes and figurines went up in smoke in an arson attack. [Full Story]

Gnome Sweet Gnome (March 22, 2009)
April showers bring May flowers. A little short on rain? Get yourself a gnome, those elf statues with the beards and pointy hats, like the ones in the Travelocity commercial.As legend goes, they're supposed to make your garden grow, and it is spring after all.[Full Story]

VolcanoCam Gnome In Over His Head (April 30, 2008)
A garden gnome perched in front of a camera at the socked-in Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens appeared last week with a paper-plate sign reading 'I will get the snow.' [Full Story]

Garden gnome stops high-speed train (April 2, 2008)
Three teenagers have been accused of holding up a train for nearly 50 minutes by placing a garden dwarf on a high-speed rail track in France, police sources said. [Full Story]

Little Person Dressed as Gnome Caught on Video 'Stalking' Streets of Argentina Town (March 11, 2008)
A town in South America is living in fear after several sightings of a 'creepy gnome' that locals claim stalks the streets at night, The Sun reports. [Full Story]

Police: Florida Man Assaults Brother With Garden Gnome (July 5, 2007)
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A 26-year-old Florida man was arrested after allegedly hitting his brother with a garden gnome and a ladder during a fight, police said. [Full Story]

Garden gnomes hid smuggled snakes (June 19, 2007)
Australian customs officials have found live reptiles hidden in the hollowed insides of ceramic garden gnomes sent as gifts from England. [Full Story]

Nearly 80 stolen garden gnomes discovered in central France (November 3, 2006)
LIMOGES, France (AFP) — Some 79 garden gnomes snatched by a so-called gnome liberation group, were discovered Wednesday along the banks of a stream in the central Limousin region, police said.[Full Story]

Gnomes spark row over fairies at Chelsea (May 25, 2006)
For many listeners of the Today programme, the off-the-cuff comment yesterday from an Oxford academic and gardening expert was a flippant if slightly uncomfortable reminder of bygone attitudes. [Full Story]



If you see a fun news story about garden gnomes, send us the link here and we'll make sure that it gets added.