You’re walking around a nice quiet neighborhood, it’s a beautiful Spring early evening and there’s many picturesque gardens along the street – when suddenly you notice a strange little figure with a bright red hat and bushy beard staring out at you through the bushes. What is it!?

When and why did it become popular to put short bearded figures – gnomes – in gardens? And what is a gnome anyway? And what’s with all these stories of people stealing garden gnomes and even taking them on trips around the world? Well, let’s start with the basic question: “what is a gnome and what is a garden gnome in particular?

My mum says: A friendly look, a kindly smile one good act, and life's worthwhile!