tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post1807340468333034714..comments2023-08-21T01:41:13.490-07:00Comments on Three Dogs in a Garden: Garden Gnomes: Cute or Tacky?Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-27643716802723399752011-05-16T04:16:15.609-07:002011-05-16T04:16:15.609-07:00My personal motto is "Bad taste is better tha...My personal motto is "Bad taste is better than no taste". The gnomes can stay, just not in my yard.Leshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18281256160705697856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-30029636417778291372011-05-05T18:31:31.945-07:002011-05-05T18:31:31.945-07:00No doubt in my mind - tacky! But we all need a tou...No doubt in my mind - tacky! But we all need a touch of tacky to keep ourselves from becoming too uppity! Nevertheless, I will find my tacky somewhere else; no gnomes for me - until I have a grandchild who gives me one for my birthday. THAT gnome would be proudly displayed in a place of prominence!debsgardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656883577922890561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-31777199969072201232011-05-04T22:12:02.922-07:002011-05-04T22:12:02.922-07:00Great post Jennifer! One of my garden mentors sai...Great post Jennifer! One of my garden mentors said to avoid garden ornaments at all cost. I stuck by that advice for a long time but have now deviated from it. I like vintage pieces (and birdhouses) in my garden so gnomes don't do it for me. I see many on garden tours tho so I know other people love them.<br />Good luck with your new veggie beds too. I can't imagine you not being able to grow anything ~ your garden is so beautiful.Kathleenhttp://kaseyskorner.typepad.com/kaseys_korner/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-54583246894746061182011-05-04T18:30:39.825-07:002011-05-04T18:30:39.825-07:00Personally, I think cheap plastic gnomes are tacky...Personally, I think cheap plastic gnomes are tacky, but I admire someone who's willing to stay true to themselves and decide to stick one in their yard, the hell with the rest of us! A friend once asked if I thought her house was well decorated. I told her my opinion didn't matter since I didn't live there. If she walked in and felt happy, that's all that mattered. I told her to carpet the ceiling, if she wanted! It worked for Elvis!! I'm adding some homemade mosaics to my garden this summer. I'm sure I'll meet someone who finds them inferior, etc. I don't care. It's not their garden!!!! Do what brings you joy and to thine own self be true!!!Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-27989727351520234952011-05-04T18:29:43.001-07:002011-05-04T18:29:43.001-07:00While I appreciate some whimsy in the garden, I mu...While I appreciate some whimsy in the garden, I must admit I am probably closer to your mother's opinion about keeping it natural. <br />My mother put some of those eyes, nose and mouth things on one of her trees.....ugh. <br />All that being said, I used to have an old red wagon in my garden in Virginia, always wanted to use it as a planter. Forgot to bring it with me when we moved... :-(Janet, The Queen of Seafordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876204203323750245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-83680313290920449692011-05-04T14:54:07.848-07:002011-05-04T14:54:07.848-07:00For someone who can only garden on a balcony in th...For someone who can only garden on a balcony in the depths of urbancoresville, I'm pretty nervy to comment... but am insanely firm on the idea that my perfect gardens contain only growing or rotting things. No doodads! You "might" persuade me to consider something made from clay (unglazed) or "maybe" convince me to toss the idea around of including a simple-something made from bended willow or twig. I loved the Gnome in Amelie but he was a traveller after all.Ruth Singerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18300830364859529149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-70990022015895450292011-05-04T09:17:43.512-07:002011-05-04T09:17:43.512-07:00HI! I'm stopping by from Desiree's post. T...HI! I'm stopping by from Desiree's post. The jury is still out on the garden gnome. I can't decide if they are freaky or cute. I like to have a little bit of whimsey in my garden. Right now, I just have a fairy or two, and a couple bunnies. (I'm a new follower.)Darlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11428797675882725547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-69671575324803405822011-05-04T08:54:55.123-07:002011-05-04T08:54:55.123-07:00Gnomes and what-nots add whimsy, fun and joy for t...Gnomes and what-nots add whimsy, fun and joy for the personal gardener. That is my take. <br /><br />So if you enjoy your gnomes and toilet seats and have the bravery to show show them... well then we appreciators are right there to support you.<br /><br />As lovely as classical gardens are, most people do not have have them.lifeshighwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14389824485602821605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-33675170442343309122011-05-04T07:59:19.065-07:002011-05-04T07:59:19.065-07:00I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder, when...I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder, when it comes to yard art.Chloe mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265196480664185330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-3762724866837154282011-05-04T05:04:15.226-07:002011-05-04T05:04:15.226-07:00Some interesting and funny comments here. As a lov...Some interesting and funny comments here. As a lover of fine art it is difficult to bring myself down to the level of gnomes. Concrete mushrooms, yes, gnomes, no.Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13191861892726873074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-15084079602417960032011-05-03T23:52:32.984-07:002011-05-03T23:52:32.984-07:00This is such an interesting post! Of course it'...This is such an interesting post! Of course it's all a matter of taste but I like a garden to look natural so for me plastic is out. All I have in my garden apart from plants is a simple wooden bench and a stone birdbath-that way the plants get to be the stars of the show :)<br />But I do smile when I see gardens full of gnomes and ornaments, people should be able to express their own taste in their own property!Lesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12141731674612575173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-4810554823936777942011-05-03T17:46:47.185-07:002011-05-03T17:46:47.185-07:00I love love love garden art in all shapes and size...I love love love garden art in all shapes and sizes. Most I wouldn't put in my own garden but I love that there are people who step outside the norm and feel free to put whatever the heck they want in their own yards. Despite the many rules and stratas suburbia seems to have invented I still think your property is your own and to heck with the neighbours. Go out and have some fun.Margueritehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377516887669269657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-3094650742808128922011-05-03T16:54:37.774-07:002011-05-03T16:54:37.774-07:00Hi I came over from Desiree's blog. To be hone...Hi I came over from Desiree's blog. To be honest I have seen it done tastefully and cute and unfortunatly tacky also. I guess it just really depends on your taste. I think if it's your yard do as you please and if people don't like it they should turn their heads away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-4393258780418148012011-05-03T15:25:41.186-07:002011-05-03T15:25:41.186-07:00The gnomes and tchotchkes in my garden are whimsic...The gnomes and tchotchkes in my garden are whimsical, tasteful and each has a story of the giver, the occasion, or its provenance. The gnomes and junk in other peoples' gardens are just tacky. That's how you can tell the difference.Laurriehttp://laurries.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-15658247237247963172011-05-03T15:24:20.601-07:002011-05-03T15:24:20.601-07:00No gnomes for me! I do like concrete and metal de...No gnomes for me! I do like concrete and metal decor in the garden. I even bought a gazing ball this year and said I never would.<br /><br />EileenGatsbys Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04228978705943696143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-1828718531313109942011-05-03T14:14:34.083-07:002011-05-03T14:14:34.083-07:00I don't have any but I do think they're ki...I don't have any but I do think they're kind of cute. Last year, I put mirrors in my garden. I don't know why I did that. Probably read it on a blog somewhere. Anyhoo that looked really cool..Kate/High Altitude Gardeninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06690999267357525527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-47034185242700872902011-05-03T13:52:26.380-07:002011-05-03T13:52:26.380-07:00Fun post! I am a believer that everything has a pl...Fun post! I am a believer that everything has a place and there is a place for everything! I am not a lover of the gnome, however in my young kids potting gardens they look right at home! I to also love a little bit of salvaged art and my weathered bird houses, something that says it has always been here and grown with my garden! So the tackiest spotting was a neighbors garden full of silk flowers, really people you think you can fool us with your year round tulips and sunflowers...lol!PolkaDotGalosheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18082105347866101606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-60669269672411072722011-05-03T13:41:36.539-07:002011-05-03T13:41:36.539-07:00This is definitely a gnome free zone, but I was so...This is definitely a gnome free zone, but I was somewhat traumatized by garden gnomes as a child, and still am not particularly fond of them. I think I fall into the 'some ornamentation is fine' category, but very much lean toward natural materials, nothing garish. I had to laugh though, I wonder where all those plastic painted gnomes on the shelf will end up ;)Curbstone Valley Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06714297348566721344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-71517016476959459642011-05-03T13:30:34.485-07:002011-05-03T13:30:34.485-07:00Thanks everyone for your great comments. I am real...Thanks everyone for your great comments. I am really glad there is a diverse range of opinions expressed here on the subject of garden gnomes.Jennifer@threedogsinagardenhttp://threedogsinagarden.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-69171470061591991712011-05-03T12:57:53.431-07:002011-05-03T12:57:53.431-07:00I get a smile out of some garden Art!An old rust...I get a smile out of some garden Art!An old rusty bike or a chair planted with flowers are pleasing. Personally like gnomes, however I do object to plastic or silk flowers in a garden.......Rosemaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12126209675266816687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-73296667564856857032011-05-03T12:11:28.834-07:002011-05-03T12:11:28.834-07:00Have you been to Yard Art's blog? She puts her...Have you been to Yard Art's blog? She puts her own spin on this topic. I don't have gnomes, but I cannot say my garden is strictly only plants. Just mostly.Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-32281367556093497842011-05-03T11:58:43.849-07:002011-05-03T11:58:43.849-07:00Sadly there are those who refuse to stick to gnome...Sadly there are those who refuse to stick to gnomes - I had a good giggle at a couple who had purchased some lovely classical naked ladies, only to paint them up with purple bikinis.<br /><br />I believe in a few ornamental additions - especially in our climate - just a few more bits of bones in the garden.Barbarapchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09990013417063903768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-59667488926000035362011-05-03T11:52:00.926-07:002011-05-03T11:52:00.926-07:00To each his own. Obviously not for a formal garden...To each his own. Obviously not for a formal garden but for the light at heart.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12140773202280570336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-85990899904157850512011-05-03T11:24:39.959-07:002011-05-03T11:24:39.959-07:00As a designer, I am confronted with this problem o...As a designer, I am confronted with this problem often, even to the tune of a $25,000 piece of tacky. Not a gnome, but tacky none the less. So with a big smile and acceptance, I position the said tacky 'art' in such a way to not draw major attention to it. I landscape it into submission.<br /> <br />I have written professionally on this subject and when I do, I must make a stand for good garden design. <br /><br />Everyone knows I paint gnomes and write on them on my blog and think they are a humorous topic, but never, ever are they put in a garden I design, even my own. When I write about them on the blog I take the stand of to each his own. <br /><br />And, I have a few German gnomes that live indoors, so my house is not gnome free. Lucky I speak a little German, because you should hear what they say about me when they think I can not understand!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-5633336402707559382011-05-03T10:28:39.914-07:002011-05-03T10:28:39.914-07:00I love the Travelocity gnome! I will actually wat...I love the Travelocity gnome! I will actually watch those commercials. But when it comes to putting it in my garden, I pass. I opt for stone statuary or something Zen - like my Buddha.Marilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242684348574884384noreply@blogger.com